Former world champion’s ultimatum blindsided me, but there are more serious issues than an F1 driver being cross with you for doing your job
I
n the grand scheme of things I enjoy a remarkably privileged career, paid to cover Formula One, a sport I have loved since 1976. So I am loth to complain, but was deeply disappointed when Max Verstappen chose to eject me from his press conference on Thursday at the Japanese Grand Prix over a question asked at the end of last season.
Our first face-to-face in 2026 came at Suzuka when it turned out the Dutchman had a positively elephantine recollection. When he saw me he stared, smiled and declared he would not speak until I left. In the course of a brief 30-second exchange, he told me to “get out” twice. I have never been asked to leave a press conference. It is an extremely rare occurrence for a journalist in F1, with barely anyone able to recall more than one or two examples.
In more than a decade of covering the sport I have interviewed Verstappen perhaps a dozen times, all of them friendly and good humoured. His outstanding talent garnered praise and admiration in those articles, criticism by contrast has been minimal and only when warranted.
