Max Verstappen gives gold reaction as reporter interrupts him on F1 grid | F1 | Sport
Max Verstappen could not help but laugh at Formula 1 rival Kimi Antonelli as the Italian reacted to a reporter interrupting their conversation in the hunt for an interview. It happened at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday as drivers made their way onto the grid for the pre-race drivers’ parade.
TV reporters were in the vicinity and drivers could not have been surprised about any potential approach. And yet both Verstappen and Antonelli looked bewildered when one reporter approached them while broadcasting live, tapping the Red Bull racer on the shoulder in the hope of getting a few words from him ahead of the race.
“I’m actually going to grab you away from Kimi,” the reporter said as she reached out to touch Verstappen’s shoulder. She then added: “Hey Max… Hi Kimi, I’m sorry. We can walk you to your car.” But at that point Antonelli walked around the other side of the reporter while Verstappen laughed at the interruption.
“I’m sorry, it’s total chaos down here,” the reporter continued, adding: “I’m sorry to separate you guys.” Also laughing, Antonelli protested: “You always separate us!” He was invited to walk with them as the reporter asked questions of the four-time world champion, but elected instead to walk off ahead.
The pre-race incident certainly did nothing to distract him from the task at hand. Having already won the Sprint race a day earlier, Verstappen converted pole position into maximum points to put himself firmly back into the drivers’ title fight.
He is now just 40 points adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri, having been 104 behind at the end of August following the Aussie’s victory at the Dutch Grand Prix. Across the four events since, the McLaren driver has failed to beat either Verstappen or team-mate Lando Norris in any race.
Speaking after the race, Verstappen said he is “for sure” in the title fight now. He told Martin Brundle: “The chance is there. We just need to try and deliver these kinds of weekends until the end. We’ll just try whatever we can. It’s exciting and I’m just very excited to the end.”
Norris had to settle for second but, by doing so, limited the damage done to the gap between himself and Verstappen with a late overtake on Charles Leclerc. The Brit said: “Finally made it through, took long enough. But it was a good battle with Charles – he fought hard, and it was tough.
“We did everything we could. Charles drove a very good race. It was good fun, good battles. But I’ll take second as there was not a lot more I could have done.”
