Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has dropped a bombshell, voicing his intention to steer clear of future Formula 1 events held in the United Kingdom. This declaration follows the less than stellar reception he received at the recent inaugural Formula 1 season launch event in London.
The startling revelation was disclosed by Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, who expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment his son received from the audience at London’s O2 Arena. The World Champion was met with a chorus of boos when he appeared on screen during the event.
It’s worth noting that Verstappen and his team-mate, Liam Lawson, were the only drivers who did not address the crowd during their stage appearance. This decision, taken by Red Bull early in the event’s planning stage, was aimed at preventing generic and insubstantial remarks following a day filled with extensive media engagements.
As the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” – Red Bull’s victory song – played in tribute to the team’s late founder Dietrich Mateschitz, team principal Christian Horner also faced a negative reception. However, Horner appeared unfazed by the audience’s reaction, acknowledging the reception with a jovial remark.
A proposed idea to celebrate Verstappen’s fourth consecutive World Championship win with a grand light and pyrotechnics show was scrapped. Instead, Red Bull opted to focus on car culture in their launch video, which preceded the reveal of the RB21’s livery.
The Dutch driver’s discontent with the lukewarm reception received from the predominantly British audience has led to his decision to abstain from similar events hosted in the UK. This decision has reportedly been accepted within Red Bull, who also expressed their disappointment with the event’s outcome.
Jos Verstappen called upon British fans to reconsider their behavior following the hostile reception to the four-time World Champion. In an interview with Dutch publication RaceXpress, he expressed his agreement with his son’s decision, criticizing the crowd’s unruly behavior as being detrimental to the sport.
The elder Verstappen also defended his son and team boss Horner, with whom he had a public disagreement last year. He expressed disappointment at the event’s outcome and stressed the importance of promoting the sport rather than fostering animosity.
The FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, also faced disapproval from the audience at the O2 Arena. However, it is understood that the FIA views such reactions as part of its role as the enforcer and regulator of F1’s rulebooks. The FIA is more concerned about addressing the issue of disrespect among competitors within Formula 1.
Recently, the FIA launched the United Against Online Abuse initiative to combat online abuse. The tribalistic behavior displayed at the O2 Arena undermines efforts to address this issue. In a statement to PlanetF1.com, the FIA emphasized the importance of respect in the sport and urged the sporting community to consider the impact of their actions both online and offline.
The issue is expected to be a topic of discussion at the upcoming World Motorsport Council meeting this Wednesday.
