Max Verstappen changes his tune dramatically after launching threat as FIA plea made
Max Verstappen is reportedly considering snubbing future F1 events in the UK after facing a chorus of boos during the 2025 season launch at The O2 Arena – leading the FIA to plead with fans to treat drivers with respect.
Despite previously stating that crowd jeers don’t faze him, the 27-year-old was greeted with the sounds reminiscent of a pantomime baddie as he and the other 19 drivers showcased their cars for the upcoming Formula 1 season.
Verstappen’s popularity took a hit in the UK following his first World Drivers Championship win in 2021, which controversially prevented British favourite Lewis Hamilton from securing a record-breaking 8th title. Additionally, his ongoing spat with Hamilton’s ex-Mercedes colleague George Russell, who accused Verstappen of threatening to deliberately crash into him at the Qatar GP, has not helped matters.
While Verstappen has hinted in the past that he enjoys the villain role, his father Jos Verstappen disclosed that the recent booing at The O2 upset him. Speaking to RaceXpress, as reported by GPblog, Jos said: “In itself I thought it was a reasonable set-up, only I thought it was shameful what happened there with Red Bull Racing. That Christian Horner was booed like that, and Max was booed too.
“Look, then you do it for Formula 1, you are there to promote the sport and then you are booed by the public. I don’t think that’s acceptable. I get it, because Max is the only one who fires up those Englishmen and says exactly how things are. But I don’t think this is acceptable, it’s really a disappointment what happened there.
“No, Max has no appetite for that, to be booed like that in front of 25,000 people. He also says: ‘If this is in England next year, they definitely won’t see me’. You are there to promote the sport and showcase the new colour schemes of the cars, but if they then go on a rampage like this, the question is what are you there to do?
“He has to get ready to go there anyway, but then you get booed like that. I think they need to take a hard look at that, because that’s not part of this sport.” This revelation stands in stark contrast to the younger Verstappen’s earlier take on being booed, such as during the 2023 Miami GP at the Miami International Autodrome.
Despite being heckled by some fans, Verstappen didn’t let it deter him from snagging his third win of the season, even after starting ninth on the grid. His stance at the time seemed unbothered as he commented on the boos: “If I were driving in the back nobody would be doing anything in terms of reaction. I think it is normal when you are winning and they don’t like who is winning.
“It is something for me which is absolutely fine as long as I am standing on the top. To me, the most important thing is I take the trophy home and they go back to their houses and they can… have a nice evening.”
As testing commences in Bahrain from Wednesday to Friday, the spotlight will be on Verstappen’s demeanour following the recent heated exchanges. The FIA has issued a statement, urging fans to treat drivers and teams with respect.
It stated: “Great rivalries throughout the history of motorsport have contributed to making it such an exciting experience for fans. But what underpins sport at all levels is a culture of respect.
“As part of the FIA’s commitment to protect the integrity of the sport, we are leading a coalition tackling online abuse in sport under the banner of our United Against Online Abuse campaign. We stand with all of our competitors, officials, volunteers, and fans to unite against this growing threat.
“We urge the sporting community to consider the impact of their actions both online and offline.” With Verstappen set to return to Britain for the Silverstone GP on July 6, he may face a frosty reception from the crowd if tensions continue to escalate.
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