Opinion: Max Verstappen’s dismissal of a journalist in Japan is a dangerous precedent for F1. Max Verstappen’s handling of a journalist at the Japan GP sparks debate about media access.

The incident involving Max Verstappen and the removal of journalist Giles Richards from The Guardian during the Dutch driver’s media session on Thursday at the Japanese Grand Prix reignites a recurring debate: what should be the role of the press within the modern Formula 1 paddock?

In recent years, it is undeniable that Formula 1 has built an increasingly controlled narrative. Yet one element still sets the sport apart from others: relatively open access to the key figures, with Thursday traditionally dedicated to media engagement. This freedom—perhaps imperfect but still real—allows journalists to go beyond official statements and press releases, where critical or uncomfortable opinions rarely emerge.

The central issue lies here: journalists have a duty to ask challenging questions when the situation warrants it. It is a fine line, to be maintained with professionalism, but one that cannot simply be erased without undermining the role of the media. At the same time, it is equally clear that interviewees have the full right to respond if they feel a question crosses a boundary. The problem arises in how they respond.

Removing a journalist from a session is an extreme and unacceptable measure. Such an action inevitably sets a dangerous precedent, shifting the balance between the media and the sport’s protagonists. A Formula 1 paddock with fewer challenging questions is also a paddock that becomes less transparent, less authentic, and ultimately less engaging. The risk is that press conferences become “sterilized,” where everything is filtered and nothing is genuinely explained. In such an environment, the real thoughts and emotions of drivers only surface when the cameras are off, rather than in front of microphones and notebooks.

In this sense, what happened in Japan must remain an isolated incident—a clear error on the part of the Dutch superstar, influenced in part by a historically tense relationship with certain British media outlets—but one that cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The friction between Max Verstappen and the media at Suzuka highlights the tension between a driver’s personal boundaries and the public’s right to information.