Four-time world champion Max Verstappen created an unexpected standoff ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday when he declined to begin a scheduled press conference until a journalist from The Guardian left the room.
Seated at Red Bull’s hospitality suite in Suzuka, Verstappen paused proceedings and said, “I’m not speaking before he’s leaving,” gesturing toward the reporter.
When asked whether the demand related to a question posed last season, Verstappen replied, “yes,” and instructed the journalist to “get out.”
The reporter exited, after which the Dutch driver continued with the session.
The journalist later told AFP the incident traced back to a question asked in December following Verstappen’s narrow title loss at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he finished two championship points behind Lando Norris.
That earlier question referenced the potential title impact of a penalty Verstappen received at the Spanish Grand Prix in June for contact with George Russell.
The brief confrontation added an edge to media day at Suzuka, underscoring lingering tensions from last season’s title battle as the new race weekend got underway.
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