Damon Hill advises Max Verstappen on media relations after press conference incident

1996 Formula 1 champion Damon Hill has suggested that Max Verstappen and other drivers could benefit from gaining media experience, following an incident where the reigning world champion ejected a journalist from a press conference. Hill believes such experience would provide crucial perspective on the pressures of reporting and help drivers navigate their public interactions more effectively.

Why it matters:

A driver's relationship with the media is a significant, often high-pressure component of their role. How they handle questions—especially difficult ones—can impact public perception and their own mental space. Hill's advice highlights a growing conversation about the skills required beyond pure driving talent in the modern F1 landscape, where media scrutiny is intense and constant.

The details:

• The incident occurred during media sessions ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, where Verstappen asked The Guardian's Giles Richards to leave after being questioned about the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he lost the championship to Lando Norris.
• Verstappen refused to proceed with the session until Richards had departed, then continued as normal.
• Damon Hill, who transitioned to a broadcasting role with Sky Sports F1 after his driving career, stated he wishes he had media experience before becoming an F1 driver for the perspective it provides.
• Hill's Perspective: He told The Race that understanding the journalist's role helps in managing interactions. "He would be better placed to be able to deal with some things if he had done it too. I think they all would," Hill said of Verstappen and current drivers.
• Adult World: Hill acknowledged his initial reluctance to criticize drivers as a pundit but concluded, "it is an adult world, and ultimately they have to be able to cope with the truth."

What's next:

While drivers are unlikely to take up formal media roles before their F1 careers, Hill's comments underscore the ongoing need for drivers and their teams to develop robust media strategies. For a champion like Verstappen, who operates with a direct and sometimes combative style, finding a sustainable balance between authenticity and professional diplomacy will remain a key part of his career off the track.