Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, has claimed that his son vowed not to return to Great Britain next year if another F1 75-styled event is held there.
Formula One celebrated its 75th anniversary inside The O2 in London, where every team’s 2025 livery was showcased for the first time, but Verstappen was one of the few drivers who did not speak on stage.
That decision came as the Dutchman and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner were booed by those in attendance, alongside the FIA when their logo flashed up on the big screen.
And Verstappen Snr has fumed over the reception, telling RaceXpress: « 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. »
He also confirmed that Max said that he would not be returning if a similar event is held on the British Isles in 12 months’ time: « 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. »
Verstappen has been painted as the villain in Britain ever since his controversial 2021 victory over Lewis Hamilton and he is routinely jeered at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion and his new team-mate Liam Lawson were the only two drivers not to speak on stage, as Horner was designated as the front man instead.
Verstappen, half-jokingly, said that he wanted to skip the event when it was first announced and later sarcastically described it as « fantastic ».
The 27-year-old often tries to distance himself from the glitz and glamour of such occasions, focusing on racing instead, similarly playing down his rift with George Russell inside The O2 with the start of the season still three weeks away.
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