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Max Verstappen on his relationship with the media in Formula 1

Verstappen clear on media: 'They have to speak to me, not I to them'

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Max Verstappen has been critical of the British media's approach on several occasions over the past year. Speaking to Formula One magazine, the Dutchman spoke about his relationship with the media.

Verstappen and the media have a particular dynamic. In protest of the FIA's decision to penalise him for using the word 'f*cked' during the Thursday press conference, the Dutchman spoke little during the press conference after qualifying in Singapore last season. Following the press session, he addressed the media as he made his way to the TV pen.

The Dutchman, however, can also be critical of the media, particularly of the British press. After he won in Brazil, he sniped that there were no British journalists present at the press conference and questioned whether they did not know where the event was being held or that maybe they were in a hurry to catch their flight out of Sao Paulo.

Verstappen clear about his relationship with the press

On his relationship with the press in general, he said, "Sometimes it is better than in other times. I say what I think and if I disagree with something, or I think someone is talking nonsense, I just say so. I don't have to speak to them [the media], they have to speak to me. So that makes it all much easier. In general, you can reasonably control that. But if certain people write a lot of nonsense, you're kind of done with that. And I let people know that."

This article was written in collaboration with Cas van de Kleut.

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