5 Crazy F1 Media Moments from the Last Few Years

Abu Dhabi, 2024: Russell says Verstappen “lashes out”

It would be remiss to start this list off with anything other than another infamous clash between Russell and Verstappen and the media fallout that resulted from it.

The two were summoned to the stewards’ office following Qualifying during the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, where Verstappen got a one-place grid penalty for driving too slowly and impeding Russell, dropping him from P1 to P2, thus promoting Russell to pole. 

After the race (which Verstappen ultimately won, while Russell finished in fourth), the Red Bull driver called out Russell’s behavior in the stewards’ office, saying, “I've never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard,” and that he “lost all respect” for Russell.

At first, that seemed like the end of the story.

But things took a turn the following week, during media day for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when Russell fired back, saying, now infamously, that Verstappen “lashes out with unnecessary anger and borderline violence.”

Russell also had an extended conversation with Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz, during which he said, “I find his comments pretty ironic when he comes out and says, ‘I’m going to purposefully crash into you, I’m going to put you on your f*****g head in the wall.’  And for me that isn’t acceptable and he’s gone beyond the line here, and I’m not going to accept it. So somebody’s got to stand up to a guy like this before it gets out of control.”

With that being the end of the 2024 season, the story fizzled out as F1 moved on to the new year… only to be brought back into light with the recent publication of Kravitz’s book, F1 Insider: Notes from the Pit Lane. 

Kravitz wrote about that press conference in Abu Dhabi, "A minute before his time slot, up strode George. He called me over to the edge of the pen, 'make sure you ask me a follow-up question'.

"'What do you mean?'" I asked.

"'I'm going to give it back to Max'," he replied. "'I've had enough of him bad-mouthing me in the press, and I'm going to call him out on his bullying tactics.

"I know you're only supposed to ask me one question, but never mind that, I'm up for as many questions as you like'.

"Before checking to see if he was wearing a Drive to Survive microphone, I asked him if he was absolutely sure he wanted to escalate what was effectively last year's story, and start a new fight with Max, never an easy battle to win. He said he was positive, and away he went."

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Apex GP photobombing Lando Norris’ interview

F1: The Movie sought to bring one of the most realistic depictions of racing to the big screen. To make this happen, the cast and crew traveled to several races during the 2023 and 2024 F1 seasons, filming on-site whenever possible.

While they obviously could not film Brad Pitt and Damson Idris racing alongside the likes of Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, they certainly could have the actors take press interviews as their characters in the media pen after races were over. This happened several times throughout the course of filming, but one moment stands out among the rest.

The 2024 British Grand Prix was a massive disappointment for Norris, who at one point looked set to take the win for McLaren at his home race. He still finished on the podium with a solid P3, but it was clear from his post-race interviews with Sky Sports that Norris was not pleased with the result.

As a disappointed Norris spoke to the media, the moment was made all the more awkward as Pitt and Idris walked in and out of the area right behind him. What’s more, extras could be heard shouting for Sonny, Pitt’s character, while Norris tried to focus on his own interview, making the whole moment feel somewhat strange and comical.

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Verstappen hosts his own press conference

One of the most memorable media moments in recent F1 history came at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, when Verstappen held his own press conference in protest of the FIA and their approach to driver language.

During the Thursday driver press conference, Verstappen described his car as “f****d,” in  reference to its performance during the previous race in Azerbaijan. The comment earned him a trip to the stewards’ office, a fine of €40K (about $45K) and community service duty for breaching the International Sporting Code.

Verstappen made his thoughts on the situation clear the following Saturday. During the official post-Qualifying press conference, he gave extremely brief, often one-word answers, saying there was a “problem with my voice.”

He agreed to speak with the media afterwards outside of the press conference room. Afterwards, a mini media mob quickly formed around him, and during these post-interview interviews he said, “I find it, of course, ridiculous what happens. So why should I then give full answers? Because I might...it's very easily, apparently you get a fine, or you get some sort of penalties.

"I prefer then not to speak a lot, save my voice and I mean, we can do the interviews also somewhere else, if you need some answers to the questions asked.”

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Martin Brundle, man in charge with Mbappé

One of the most well-known parts of any F1 weekend is the pre-race grid walk, where reporters will briefly speak to both teams setting up on the starting grid as well as audience members enjoying a closer look at the cars.

Martin Brundle has made a name for himself doing these grid walks for both his energy and the occasionally odd experiences he has had.

One such incident occurred during the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix when Brundle attempted to interview French footballer Kylian Mbappé. As Brundle approached Mbappé, one of the Frenchman's bodyguards stepped in the way and tried to move Brundle aside.

But not to be swayed from his mission, Brundle immediately responded with a cool, “It's all right mate. I'm in charge around here.”

When Brundle tried to initiate the interview, Mbappé showed no interest to begin with, waving to the crowd instead. Another bodyguard stepped in between the two of them, to which Brundle responded, “I think that I think he's happy to talk, really.”

Brundle did eventually get some words from Mbappe, who told the reporter that he was here just to enjoy the race as a fan.

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Reporter gets dragged away mid-interview

We may have seen plenty of drivers try to get out of speaking with journalists mid-interview, but it's much rarer to see the interviewer themselves disappear mid-question.

This is exactly what happened at the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix when a reporter from Viaplay attempted to interview Verstappen as he was making his way through the paddock. Verstappen had just finished answering a previous question, and as the reporter began asking another a security guard suddenly appeared, took the reporter by the arm, and gently guided him away from the driver.

The moment surprised Verstappen so much that he stopped in his tracks to see what happened. When he turned around to see the reporter being led away, he gave him a quick wave goodbye before continuing on.

As for why this happened: right as the interaction was about to take place, an announcement could be heard that the national anthem was about to start. It is most likely that the security guard was simply guiding the reporter away from the grid area and toward the exit, as the race would be starting shortly.

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Cover photo courtesy of Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.