David Coulthard voices 'surprise' at FIA over Max Verstappen spat

David Coulthard has admitted surprise that the FIA opted not to intervene over Max Verstappen's public spat with a journalist in Japan.

On Thursday's traditional media day at Suzuka, Verstappen refused to start his press conference until one particular journalist left the room.

The animosity stems from a question that was posed to Verstappen at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following his narrow title defeat to Lando Norris.

After the journalist removed himself from the room, Verstappen proceeded with the press session.

Weighing in on the situation, Coulthard told the Up to Speed podcast: “It's probably not something that, on reflection, Max will feel good about because even though he's absolutely at right, you don't have to answer the question. 

“It is unusual to ask somebody to leave from that environment. 

“I'm actually a little bit surprised the FIA didn't take a stance on it. I didn't see anything that there was any sort of reprimand.”

However, Coulthard insisted he understands why Verstappen was left upset by the situation, insisting drivers are not immune to taking words personally. 

“I can only liken it to when I was racing, and I never won the world championships that Max has,” he said.

“But I was definitely open to some criticism from various journalists, and it's very difficult not to take it personally. 

“I'm sure you don't look at the comments on some of the social feeds, because there'll be some who love you and there'll be some that just don't like you, and that's the way it is. 

“If they were questioning my qualifying ability, it was a fair question - but of course, it wasn't easy to be asked the same question time and time again, and some journalists would be a lot more dismissive. 

“It is their right as a journalist to say what they see, but it is difficult not to take it personally, and none of the drivers are exempt from that.”