Max Verstappen's frustration originated from a question Richards asked at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December about an incident at the Spanish Grand Prix where Verstappen intentionally collided with George Russell. Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty for the incident with Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, costing him nine championship points. He missed out on the world championship last year by two points, adding significance to the penalty's impact.
Verstappen accused Richards of laughing in his face while asking the question in Abu Dhabi, but Richards insisted he was not laughing at Verstappen's expense. The video of the Abu Dhabi exchange went viral on social media in the wake of the race, amplifying the tension between the two.
Get out.
At the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen's 10-second penalty not only cost him nine points but also contributed to his narrow championship miss. In Abu Dhabi, Verstappen had fallen over 100 points off the championship lead with 10 rounds remaining, highlighting a challenging season. The collision with Russell thus became a focal point in post-race discussions, fueling Verstappen's sensitivity to questions about it.
After Richards left, Verstappen continued the media session as normal. Verstappen was summoned for talks by Red Bull after the incident with Richards. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Verstappen that Red Bull does not want to be known for ordering press to leave, emphasizing the team's stance on media relations.
What the f**k!
A clear-the-air meeting between Verstappen and Richards is planned for the Miami Grand Prix in May. The media session was organized by Red Bull, not an official FIA press conference. This distinction underscores the internal nature of the event and Red Bull's role in managing its fallout.
During practice sessions at Suzuka, Lewis Hamilton faced no further action from stewards after an incident with Verstappen. Verstappen had to avoid Hamilton's Ferrari by darting left during the incident. The stewards found Hamilton was not given a warning by his team about Verstappen's approach. Verstappen also went before stewards for an incident with Franco Colapinto during second practice, though the outcome of that hearing remains unknown.
Constant kind of like digging, being disrespectful, especially one particular person.
In performance terms, Verstappen finished more than a second behind pacesetter Oscar Piastri in FP2 at Suzuka. Verstappen has eight points in the drivers' championship after two races, but there is a discrepancy in understanding his standing: while he has eight points, he trails by 43 points after two races, implying he has fewer than eight points relative to the leader. The current championship points total of the leader after two races is unclear, leaving Verstappen's exact position ambiguous.
It's not the first time that Verstappen has refused to engage with part of the media. In 2022, Verstappen declined to talk with Sky Sports at the Mexico City Grand Prix due to a 'constant kind of like digging, being disrespectful, especially one particular person.' The response followed a comment made on Sky Sports' coverage at the previous race where a pundit used the word 'robbed' when discussing Lewis Hamilton's title defeat in 2021.
Drew a line under it.
From discussions with media colleagues, it is hard to recall any past example of such an incident in such public fashion on an F1 weekend. Verstappen clinched his maiden title in controversial fashion at the final race of the 2021 season, adding context to the sensitive media environment. This broader implication highlights how past controversies continue to influence current interactions.
Other events at Suzuka included George Russell and Kimi Antonelli setting the fastest times in the first practice session. Oscar Piastri set the fastest time in the second practice session. Finnish journalist Mervi Kallio accidentally interrupted a live broadcast by ServusTV at the Japanese Grand Prix and apologized to ServusTV for the interruption.
In a lighter moment, Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan jokingly begged Lewis Hamilton to take over his media duties during a press session. This incident provided a contrast to the tension surrounding Verstappen's refusal, showcasing the varied dynamics of F1 media engagements.
Several unknowns linger from the weekend: the specific question Richards asked at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that caused Verstappen's frustration has not been disclosed. The outcome of Verstappen's stewards' hearing for the incident with Franco Colapinto during second practice is also pending. Additionally, the exact nature of the incident between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton during first practice at Suzuka remains unclear, as do the details of the planned clear-the-air meeting between Verstappen and Richards at the Miami Grand Prix.