Max Verstappen caused an unusual moment ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix after reportedly refusing to start his scheduled media session until one journalist had exited the room.

The Red Bull driver, like the rest of the Formula 1 grid, was attending Thursday’s media activities at Suzuka following his recent outing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. However, the four-time world champion took issue with the presence of a journalist from The Guardian and made his position immediately clear.

“I’m not speaking before he’s leaving,” Verstappen reportedly said, delaying the session until the situation was resolved.

The tension is understood to stem from an exchange between the two dating back to last season’s finale in Abu Dhabi. On that occasion, Verstappen was asked whether he regretted his controversial clash with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, and whether that incident ultimately played a role in losing the championship to Lando Norris.

Verstappen, who missed out on a fifth consecutive title by a narrow margin, was visibly frustrated by the question at the time and suggested it overlooked the broader context of his season.

While Thursday’s incident did not escalate further, it highlights the lingering sensitivity surrounding last year’s title battle and the scrutiny that followed. Once the journalist had left, Verstappen continued the session and answered questions as usual.