Seattle Seahawks star Marshawn Lynch stood before the media in Phoenix on media day ahead of Super Bowl 49. Lynch made his intentions clear in a brief opening remark and then answered questions from the media.
He then gave each of them the same answer.
“I'm just here to avoid being found,” Lynch replied.
This lasted for over five minutes, and Lynch's name became the stuff of sports legend – not to mention his incredible play on the field.
Max Verstappen had a Marshawn Lynch-like moment at the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday night.
After Thursday's F1 media day ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, F1 drivers were called to meet with race officials. FIA press conference Verstappen Asked about the RB20's set-up at last weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, his response was fairly straightforward.
“So as soon as we got into qualifying I knew the car wasn't good.”
Verstappen was summoned to meet with race officials, after which it was decided he had breached Article 12.2.1.k of the FIA Sporting Code, which covers public displays of “misconduct”, and was ordered to carry out a level of community service. Verstappen apologised for his comments.
Then Saturday night came. Verstappen finished in the top three in qualifying, along with pole-sitter Lando Norris and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. FIA press conference after qualifyingHis answer was Lynchian, especially the next part.
Question: What did you change overnight? I've noticed a big difference in my performance lately.
Max Verstappen: A lot.Q: Can you elaborate on what you did?
MV: No, because you might get fined or get an extra day…Q: So Max, are you confident in your race pace?
MV: That may be true.Q: So, how much of a step into the unknown is the race going to be, given the issues you had in practice yesterday?
MV: That's an unknown. Yes, that's true.Q: Tell me about queuing.
MV: This isn't directed at you. Don't worry. I don't want to upset you.Q: All right. So what can you tell us about riding alongside Lando tomorrow in terms of the championship fight and strategy in the race?
MV: We'll find out tomorrow.
Once questions from the media were answered, Athletic First, he asked Verstappen about set-up changes to the RB20.
What was his reaction?
“I would appreciate it if you could ask these questions outside the room.”
And that's exactly what happened. Verstappen snuck out of the FIA press conference and held an impromptu press conference with the assembled media after the session. This is quite unusual, because in F1 races the top three drivers are required to give television interviews after the official FIA press conference, but are not required to meet with written media personnel on-site.
But here Verstappen is doing just that:
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meanwhile FIA Press Conference Saturday Both Norris and Hamilton came to Verstappen's support that night, with Hamilton even discouraging Verstappen from taking part in any community service, saying that he himself would not have done so.
“Yeah, I think it's a bit of a joke to be honest,” Hamilton said. “This is the pinnacle of the sport, mistakes are going to happen. I would never do that and I hope Max never does that either.”
Norris, Verstappen's friend and rival, earlier joked that Verstappen “deserved to be punished” before speaking his true thoughts.
“He got what he deserved, he used foul language,” Norris began.
“I think it's pretty unfair. I don't agree with anything.”
Somewhere, Marshawn Lynch agrees.
