Max Verstappen ejects journalist from Suzuka press conference over past question

Max Verstappen refused to begin a media session at the Japanese Grand Prix until a specific journalist left the room, citing a question from months prior about his collision with George Russell. The ejected journalist has expressed deep disappointment over the incident and revealed they subsequently received abusive emails from fans.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights the increasingly tense relationship between top drivers and the media, and how past interactions can resurface to affect current access. It also underscores the real-world consequences for journalists, who can face harassment from a driver's fanbase for simply doing their job, potentially creating a chilling effect on the press corps.

The details:

• The confrontation occurred during Verstappen's regular pre-race media appearance at Suzuka. The three-time champion pointedly stated, "I'm not speaking before he's leaving," directing his comment at the journalist.
• The root cause was a question the journalist asked Verstappen at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, inquiring if he regretted his controversial crash with George Russell at that season's Spanish Grand Prix.
• After telling the reporter to "get out," the journalist complied and Verstappen proceeded with the session.
• In a response piece, the journalist noted they had conducted around a dozen previous interviews with Verstappen, all described as "friendly and good humoured," and that their criticism of him had been "minimal" and "only when warranted."
• Online Abuse: Following the incident, the journalist reported receiving a hostile email within two hours, calling them "the toxic dipsh*t who's responsible for the whole British bias in F1."

What's next:

While the journalist confirmed their personal wellbeing was fine and expressed hope for a return to better terms with Verstappen in the future, the episode casts a shadow over media relations. It sets a precedent where drivers can blacklist journalists based on old questions, potentially limiting tough but fair inquiry. The focus now shifts back to the track, where Verstappen faces a competitive weekend after reporting "big problems" with his Red Bull following Friday practice.