Was Max Verstappen Right To KICK OUT a Journalist?

TL;DR

Verstappen ejected Guardian journalist Giles Richards from a Red Bull press session over a bad-faith 'gotcha' question asked in Abu Dhabi about the Barcelona incident.

Key Points

• 1.The incident occurred at Red Bull's hospitality, not an FIA-mandated event. Verstappen spotted Guardian journalist Giles Richards at a print media Q&A in Japan and refused to start until Richards left — a legally defensible move since it was Red Bull's private space.
• 2.The grudge traced back to Abu Dhabi 2024, where Richards smirked after a loaded question. Richards asked Verstappen if he regretted the Barcelona wheel-touch with George Russell, given he lost the championship by just 2 points — then visibly smirked as if scoring a 'gotcha', which Verstappen called out immediately.
• 3.The author sides with Verstappen, arguing the Barcelona question was asked in bad faith. Verstappen had addressed the Spain incident on three separate occasions — in Barcelona, November, and December — making the Abu Dhabi re-asking a deliberate provocation rather than genuine journalism.
• 4.Reactions split predictably: fans praised his authenticity, British media condemned it as dangerous precedent. Critics argued it threatened press freedom and reflected Verstappen's frustration at not winning; supporters noted his consistent history of blunt honesty dating back to a 2018 headbutt threat at 19 years old.
• 5.The author concludes Verstappen won the power struggle because journalists need him more than he needs them. Richards later played the victim and cited a bias email, but the author argues Verstappen drew a clear line — similar to Sky's Ted Kravitz backing down after a one-day Red Bull boycott.