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Max Verstappen ‘Threatens To Boycott F1 Launch Event In Future’ After He Was Booed By London Crowd 604r71
Kieran Lynch is a sports writer specialising in football and Formula One. He is a sports journalism graduate of Leeds Trinity University and completed a Press Association NCTJ course in Newcastle. He previously worked as a news reporter for the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk and spent five years as a sports writer at the MailOnline.
Get to know Kieran Lynch betterPublished23 Feb 2025
Max Verstappen has reportedly threatened to boycott Formula One’s season launch event in the future after he was booed at the F175 show in London.
The liveries of all ten cars for the 2025 season were launched at an event at the 02 Arena in London on Tuesday.
Verstappen’s on-screen appearance early in the show prompted a mixed reaction from the crowd. There was a loud chorus of boos as well as some cheers.
His successes in recent years have come at the expense of British drivers Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.
Verstappen’s first title came in controversial circumstances at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A late safety car allowed him to Hamilton when the Brit looked on for a record eighth F1 title.
He was involved in some fierce battles with Norris last year on his way to his fourth straight title.
Verstappen ‘Threatens To Boycott Launch Party If Held In England’ 3b114x
Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, has claimed that the four-time champion has threatened not to show up to future launch parties if they are held in England after he was booed in London.
As per the Daily Mail, he said: “Max doesn’t feel like being booed in front of 25,000 people. He also says ‘If this is in England again next year, they certainly won’t see me there,’ and I completely agree with him.
“You are there for Formula 1 to promote the sport a little bit and all. Then you are booed by the public. I think that is unacceptable.
“Look, I understand it. Max is the only one who puts the English drivers under pressure and who tells it exactly how it is. But I think it is unacceptable and a real disappointment what happened there.
“In itself I thought it was a reasonable set-up, but I thought it was embarrassing what happened there.”
It is not the first time that Max Verstappen has been booed by F1 crowds. It has occasionally happened during post-race interviews following a victory.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was also jeered during the event and acknowledged it while speaking on stage.
All 20 drivers. One epic show. The class of Formula 1 in 2025 🤩#F175LIVE pic.twitter.com/slZnmLR3z1
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 18, 2025
FIA Condemns ‘Tribalist’ Booing Of Verstappen And Horner 2q4g20
Formula One’s governing body the FIA have hit out at the booing of Red Bull star Max Verstappen and his team principal Christian Horner.
It is believed that the subject will be brought up at a World Motor Sports Council meeting next week.
An FIA spokesperson said: “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 such, it was disappointing to hear the crowd’s tribalist reaction to FIA Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner, at the F1 launch in London.
“Max and Christian have both contributed greatly to the sport we love. In the season ahead we should not lose sight of that. 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.”
Verstappen will begin testing for the new Formula One season on Wednesday in Bahrain.