Max Verstappen: “One second, I’m not speaking before he’s leaving.”
Giles Richards: “Seriously?”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “Because of the question last year?”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “You want me to leave?”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “It’s because of the question I asked you in Abu Dhabi?”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “About why you…”
Verstappen: “Yeah.”
Richards: “About Spain?”
Verstappen: “Get out.”
Richards: “You’re really, really upset about it?”
Verstappen: “Get out. Get out. Now we can start.”
Can’t really say this makes me particularly sympathetic towards Max. The question was pointed for sure, but still completely within the limits of reasonable journalism. Max has no obligation to answer, but he shouldn’t have this power to control the narrative either. He’s there to answer questions from accredited reporters, not talk to select few people who can spin him softball questions. Excluding journalists whose reporting you don’t like, throwing tantrums, carrying a petty grudge for months and acting on it unprovoked much later… All very Trumpian honestly. Don’t really like any of it.
Also if you don’t want to face questions about deliberately driving into people, maybe you don’t deliberately drive into people?