Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was involved in a flashpoint ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix on Thursday when he refused to start his press conference until an English journalist had left the room.
The Red Bull driver sat down to speak to reporters at the team’s hospitality suite in Suzuka, but then said, “I’m not speaking before he’s leaving”, and gestured at a journalist from The Guardian newspaper.
‘Get out’
The journalist asked Max Verstappen if his demand was because of a question he had asked the driver last season, to which Verstappen replied “yes” and told him to “get out”.
The reporter left and Max Verstappen continued with the press conference.
The reporter later told AFP that the incident stemmed from a question he had asked Max Verstappen after the Dutchman missed out on a fifth world title to Lando Norris by two championship points at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
The question centred on the impact of a penalty that Verstappen had picked up for ramming Mercedes driver George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Defending champion
Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix in the third of the season.
Max Verstappen is the defending champion at Sukuza, but after two races this season lies in eighth place in the drivers’ standings with just eight points.
Mercedes’ George Russell leads the way with 51 points.
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX TIMES
All times SA
Friday, 27 March
Practice 1: 04:30 – 05:30
Practice 2: 08:00 – 09:00
Saturday, 28 March
Practice 3: 04:30 – 05:30
Qualifying: 08:00 – 09:00
Sunday, 29 March
Main race: 07:00
Standings ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix
Drivers
| Rank | Driver | Points |
| 1 | George Russell | 51 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | 47 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | 34 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | 33 |
| 5 | Oliver Bearman | 17 |
| 6 | Lando Norris | 15 |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | 9 |
| 8 | Max Verstappen | 8 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | 8 |
| 10 | Arvid Lindblad | 4 |
| 11 | Isack Hadjar | 4 |
| 12 | Oscar Piastri | 3 |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | 2 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | 2 |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | 1 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | 0 |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | 0 |
| 18 | Alexander Albon | 0 |
| 19 | Valtteri Bottas | 0 |
| 20 | Sergio Perez | 0 |
| 21 | Fernando Alonso | 0 |
| 22 | Lance Stroll | 0 |
Constructors
| Rank | Constructor | Points |
| 1 | Mercedes | 98 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 67 |
| 3 | McLaren | 18 |
| 4 | Haas | 17 |
| 5 | Red Bull | 12 |
| 6 | Racing Bulls | 12 |
| 7 | Alpine | 10 |
| 8 | Audi | 2 |
| 9 | Williams | 2 |
| 10 | Cadillac | 0 |
| 11 | Aston Martin | 0 |
Who will win this season’s Formula One drivers’ title?
Let us know by clicking on the comment banner below …
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
