'Get out, get out!': Max Verstappen kicks journalist out of press conference

Former Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen kicked a reporter out of a press conference ahead of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver, 28, refused to speak to journalists at the media session until The Guardian's Giles Richards left the room. Verstappen said: "One second, I'm not speaking before he's leaving." The four-time world champion's refusal dates back to a question he was asked following the 2025 F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Back then, Mr Richards had asked the Dutchman about a collision with Mercedes driver George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix on 1 June last year. The collision led to a 10-second penalty that knocked Verstappen down five places, costing him points.

Hitting back at the question at the time, Verstappen said: "You forget all the other stuff that happened in ⁠my season. "The only thing you mention is Barcelona.

I knew that [question] would come. You're giving me a stupid grin now.

"I don't ‌know. Yeah, it's part of racing at the end.

You live and learn. The championship is one of 24 rounds.

I've also had a lot of ‌early Christmas presents given to me in the second half, so you can also question that." In Suzuka, Japan, on Thursday, after Verstappen asked him to leave, Mr Richards replied "seriously?". Verstappen replied: "Yeah." Mr Richards then asked: "Because of the question last year?" Verstappen then answered "yeah.