Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen can hold onto a grudge.
The Red Bull superstar proved as much during his first press conference ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
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As he sat down for his first media session, Verstappen refused to answer any questions until The Guardian’s Giles Richards left.
“One second; I’m not speaking before he’s leaving,” Verstappen proclaimed to the piled up press pack.
Richards couldn’t quite believe the demand from the 28-year-old. Here is the full exchange between the pair.
Giles Richards: “Seriously?”
Max Verstappen: “Yep.”
G.R: “Because of the question last year?”
M.V: “Yeah.”
G.R: “You want me to leave?”
M.V: “Yeah.”
G.R: “It’s just the question I asked you in Abu Dhabi?”
M.V: “Yeah.”
G.R: “About Spain?”
M.V: “Get out.”
What sparked Max’s frustrations with the journalist?
Following the final race of the 2025 season, which saw Verstappen finish two points behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, the Red Bull driver was asked if he regretted his collision with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix.
The incident saw stewards slap Verstappen with a 10-second time penalty that dropped him down the order and come away with only one point instead of 10.
A penalty that ultimately proved the difference in him not winning his fifth-straight F1 world championship.
But he wasn’t happy and snapped back at Richards.
“You forget all the other stuff that happened in my season,” Verstappen snapped back at the time.
“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.”
What happened during the Spanish Grand Prix?
Verstappen lost his mind on lap 63 of the race as he was locked in a battle for fourth position against Mercedes’ Russell.
The Red Bull star was advised by his team to give Russell the place back and that’s when all hell broke loose.
Verstappen eventually, begrudgingly, let the door open for Russell to overtake him around the outside of turn five — only to then dart into the side of Russell’s Mercedes W16 as the British driver looked to swoop around the bend.
Russell was heard saying on team radio: “What the f***”.
On-board footage from Verstappen’s car showed the two arrived at the apex of the corner almost together, before the world champion clearly veered towards the right into Russell’s car when there was plenty of room on the left hand side of the corner.
While Verstappen finished the season with a wet sail, the penalty proved the difference maker in the championship race.
Despite winning seven of the final 10 races of the season, Verstappen wasn’t able to haul in Norris’ lead atop the standings.
Entering the final race of the season, the four-time world champion needed to win and have Norris finish in fourth position if he was to claim another crown.
It wasn’t to be however with Norris holding on to finish third behind teammate Oscar Piastri and Verstappen.
Norris claimed his maiden F1 title with 423 points while Verstappen had 421 points.
