During the spectacular show held at the O2 Arena in London, where all the 2025 season liveries were unveiled, something unacceptable happened. When it was Red Bull’s turn, as Lawson and Verstappen entered the stage, preceded by Christian Horner, a wave of boos erupted from the crowd. A few days later, Jos, father of the world champion, delivered a stern response.
It was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events for Formula 1 fans worldwide. The show officially kicked off the new racing season, the seventy-fifth in history. But despite all the excitement, it sparked a fair share of criticism, especially among longtime fans.
The show’s music, choreography, and dazzling light displays once again overshadowed the sport itself. The drivers and team principals were given only seven minutes to make their first official statements of the new year. Another highly debated moment was when the Red Bull team took the stage.
Christian Horner was the first to enter, announcing the two drivers: Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson. Due to the strict time limit, neither of them spoke to the presenters. However, at that very moment, one of the ugliest scenes in any sporting competition took place.
From the packed stands, a series of boos rained down on the Milton Keynes team. In recent years, Red Bull and Verstappen have frequently faced such situations. The most notorious incidents occurred under the podium at the Austin and Mexico GPs, where thousands of Sergio Perez fans jeered at the number 1 driver.
Jos Verstappen addressed this disgraceful event in an interview with RacExpress, not holding back: “What I found embarrassing about the show was what happened to Red Bull, with the boos directed at Horner and even at Max. He was there to promote the sport, and the crowd booed him—I think that’s unacceptable.”
“I understand the reason: Max is the only one who gets under the skin of the British and tells things as they are, but I don’t find it acceptable. If they continue with this kind of show in the coming years, Max won’t be there. He doesn’t want to be booed like that in front of 25,000 people and has said that if the event returns to England next year, he definitely won’t participate.”
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