Sidelined in the middle of a press conference in Suzuka, Giles Richards breaks his silence and firmly defends his work, while regretting a “deeply disappointing” episode.
Read more Mercedes hits hard in FP3 at Suzuka: Antonelli leads Russell before qualifying
The incident marked the start of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend at the Suzuka circuit. Max Verstappen refused to answer media questions as long as a specific journalist remained in the room.
This journalist, Giles Richards, a correspondent for The Guardian, found himself directly targeted. In front of all the reporters, the Red Bull driver was categorical: “I will not speak until he has left.”
After a tense and unusual exchange, Verstappen insisted until he obtained the journalist’s departure, before continuing his media session normally. An extremely rare situation in a paddock where relations between drivers and journalists are usually codified and respected.
Giles Richards: “Deeply disappointed” but measured
In a long column published after the incident, Giles Richards did not hide his feelings: “I was deeply disappointed when Max Verstappen chose to expel me from his press conference.”
Despite everything, the British journalist wanted to put things into perspective, taking a step back from the situation: “There are far more serious problems in the world than an F1 driver being angry at you for doing your job.”
With more than ten years of presence in Formula 1, Richards recalls that his exchanges with Verstappen had always been cordial until then: “I have interviewed Verstappen a dozen times, always in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.”
The origin of the conflict dates back to 2025
At the heart of the tension: a question asked several months earlier, after the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The journalist had questioned Verstappen about a controversial incident that occurred during the Spanish Grand Prix, where the Dutchman had collided with George Russell.
A question deemed legitimate by Richards: “It was a question that had to be asked”. But it had clearly left a mark on the four-time world champion.
Read more George Russell pushes the FIA to go further: «We could have reduced even more»
The journalist also looks back on the driver’s sharp reaction at the time: “You forget all the rest of my season. You only mention Barcelona”. A response he says he found surprising in its intensity.
Concerns about excesses
Beyond the incident itself, Giles Richards points to a broader problem: the sometimes excessive reactions that can follow this type of episode.
He reveals having received an insulting message after the conference: “You are the problem. You are the toxic idiot responsible for all the British favoritism in F1.”
Without overdramatizing, he nevertheless highlights a worrying trend in the current media exposure of the sport, where journalists and actors sometimes become targets.
A clear defense of the journalism profession
Despite the controversy, Richards wants to recall the essential: his role. “My one and only objective is to report the facts with honesty and impartiality.”
He rejects any accusation of bias, explaining that he has already been criticized in the past for supposed positions against different drivers, including Lewis Hamilton or Sebastian Vettel.
Finally, he concludes on a peaceful note, without closing the door: “I still admire Verstappen and I hope we can have better relations in the future.”
A message that contrasts with the tension of the moment, and reminds us that, even at the top of motorsport, dialogue remains essential.
Read more Lando Norris on the brink of a penalty: McLaren is already playing with fire in 2026