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The F1 75 launch event at London's O2 Arena, celebrating 75 years of Formula 1, turned controversial when Red Bull's Max Verstappen and team principal Christian Horner were met with boos from the predominantly British crowd. The incident has since ignited discussions among key figures in the sport.
The event, which drew an audience of 15,000 in person and nearly 7.5 million online, was meant to showcase the 2025 season's cars and teams. However, Verstappen and Horner were loudly booed when it was time to present Red Bull's RB21. Reports later suggested Verstappen was angered by the reception and might refuse to attend if the event returns to London. His father, Jos Verstappen, condemned the reaction, stating, "Max doesn't feel like being booed in front of 25,000 people. If this is in England again next year, they certainly won't see me there."
Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team principal and a long-time rival of Horner, acknowledged the incident but downplayed its significance. "I wasn't booing. There were 15,000 people doing that – it wasn't necessary that I did that!" he told Sky Sports. He emphasized that the event as a whole was a success and should not be overshadowed by the moment. "It was a great event, the spectators were great, the presentation of the cars was good, and it sets a new format for years to come," he added.
Horner compared the experience to entering a rival football team's stadium, acknowledging that British fans may not support Red Bull. While he brushed off his own reception, he expressed disappointment at the treatment of Verstappen. "Fans will always back the teams and drivers that they want to. The only disappointment I had with it was the reception to Max as a four-time world champion," he said. He suggested the reaction would have been different in the Netherlands, where Verstappen is highly revered.
The FIA, motorsport's governing body, also condemned the crowd's behavior, stating, "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." Their statement, however, led to further controversy, with some in the paddock questioning the FIA's priorities given its handling of past issues.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown took a neutral stance, noting that crowd reactions are part of sports. "Cheering and booing have been part of every sport forever, and that's what fans do," he said. "It wasn't anything visceral or violent. It was just sports fans voicing their opinion."
Despite the mixed reactions, the future of the F1 launch event remains uncertain, with speculation about new host locations, including Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Verstappen and Horner have yet to make further comments, but they are expected to address the issue ahead of the 2025 season opener in Bahrain.
