Red Bull’s Max Verstappen said that commenting on boos he received during the F1 75 launch event are “not worth my time”.
Verstappen’s introduction by F1 75 host Jack Whitehall at London’s O2 Arena was met with cheers mixed in with boos from a segment of fans in the capacity crowd.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner was met by a chorus of booing when he took to the F1 75 stage, which the FIA condemned as “tribalist” behaviour.
Verstappen’s father, Jos, threatened that the four-time champion would boycott future launch events if they were held in England.
Horner said it was “disappointing” to see the reaction to his driver, given his status as a Formula 1 great.
Verstappen, however, was nonplussed when asked about the matter during F1 testing in Bahrain, sarcastically asking, “Was there any booing?”
The Dutchman added to select media including Motorsport Week: “Maybe I’m deaf. I don’t need to really talk about it. It’s not worth my time.”
F1 75 ‘wasn’t the place for booing’
Horner and McLaren CEO Zak Brown both accepted that sporting events in packed out arenas naturally draw boos and cheers in equal measure per standard fan behaviour.
This wasn’t the opinion of Williams and Mercedes team bosses James Vowels and Toto Wolff, who both felt boos had no place at the F1 75 event.
“I was unsure of how that event would go,” said Vowles.
“I think it was absolutely fantastic. We did the sport justice.
“Well done to all of our organisers. Well done to the teams for really leading the team at the same time.
“I don’t think it’s the place for booing,” he added.
“We were there going there to represent our sport that we’re passionate about and we need to remember that it’s trying to reflect the world.
“It’s not a hero-evil type environment.”
Wolff: F1 75 booing ‘not directed to Max’
Wolff agreed that the event was a positive one for F1, saying “Everything was immaculate. The organisation was really good. It was a top event for our sponsors.”
“We really enjoyed it. It was the feedback we got. And we need to applaud Formula 1 for what it is.
I’m sure this format is going to expand in the next few years, maybe to different places, and that’s exceptional.
“Now, yes, we were all surprised of the amount of booing that happened, particularly to one individual,” Wolff added, alluding to the response that met Horner.
“There wasn’t any booing, really, for Max,” Wolff opined.
“That coming in was a consequence of what happened before, but that was big and bad and came as a surprise to everyone.
“I mean, it’s his home turf and still, Christian got these boos, so boos shouldn’t be in the sport. But in my opinion, that wasn’t directed to Max.”
READ MORE – Toto Wolff ‘doesn’t think’ Max Verstappen was booed at F1 75 season launch event
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