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Max Verstappen’s high-profile dispute with an F1 journalist made headlines during his media duties ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, leading some to highlight how some of the sport’s biggest legends would never have reacted in the same way.
The Dutchman was furious at the beginning of the pre-event press conference at Suzuka after seeing a familiar face from a media session that took place at the 2025 season-closer.
At that press conference, Verstappen was reminded of the nine points he missed out on after seeing red during the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. The Red Bull star’s fury got the better of him that day, and George Russell endured what appeared to be an intentional collision from his rival.
Was Max Verstappen right to kick out a reporter during his press conference?
Last year, the reporter asked Verstappen if his Spanish GP move on George Russell cost him the title.
It ended up costing the four-time world champion a fifth title, and he wasn’t happy about being reminded of the fact. Fast forward to the race weekend in Suzuka, and Verstappen flat-out refused to speak to the media unless the journalist in question was removed from the room.
F1 journalist shares how Ayrton Senna never went as far as Max Verstappen during ‘run-ins’ with journalists
Following the high-profile incident between Verstappen and the reporter, Giles Richards, the latter posted an article that disclosed his version of events, which also included his immediate reaction to the moment.
On social media, it was met with split opinion. Some came to the defence of the renowned journalist, while others understood Verstappen’s perspective on the exchange and defended him for it.
Maurice Hamilton, another F1 journalist who previously worked with Richards at The Guardian, was among those who defended the boycotted reporter.
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He replied to a post that shared the report on X with, “This is the classy response from a dedicated & thoroughly professional F1 writer – also my successor at The Guardian.
“I had run-ins with Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna, both of whom were very unhappy about stuff I had written. They called me out – but NEVER in public.”
It has since been reported that Red Bull management intends to speak with Verstappen over the incident, after it left some internal members of staff uneasy.
- READ MORE: Ayrton Senna’s former rival explains why Max Verstappen is now ‘above’ the Brazilian F1 icon
Ayrton Senna had a high-profile run-in with Jackie Stewart during his F1 career
While the Brazilian F1 legend may not have had any public spats with journalists during his time on the grid, he did have a high-profile dispute with three-time world champion Jackie Stewart during an interview.
After Stewart accused Senna of deliberately crashing into Alain Prost during the 1990 F1 title finale, the 41-time Grand Prix winner went ballistic at him.
The interview ended early, with Senna asserting that he would never speak to the F1 legend ever again. He reportedly kept his word for over a year before calling Stewart and apologising to him.
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