Max Verstappen has been a hero both domestically and internationally for years, although there are plenty of racing fans who have a strong dislike for the Dutchman. His ruthless driving style has not always made him popular with the international audience. However, former driver Juan Pablo Montoya observes that an overwhelming majority of fans are increasingly appreciating Verstappen. His recent excursion to the Nordschleife also contributes to this.
Verstappen’s image is largely determined by the media. In the past, he was often portrayed as ‘the villain’ – a relentless racer who would stop at nothing to defeat his rivals. Nowadays, a different narrative is increasingly heard, also because Verstappen regularly shows a different side of himself. For instance, a video of the Dutchman with presenter Chris Harris went viral this year. After a disarming interview, Harris admitted that Verstappen’s image does not match the down-to-earth driver he is.
Montoya: ‘Verstappen has changed enormously’
Former driver Juan Pablo Montoya also increasingly sees a different Verstappen. In his MontoyA podcast, he explains how Max’s popularity is increasing as a result. “Verstappen has changed enormously,” says the Colombian. “When he was dominating, people didn’t like him that much. Generally, no one likes someone who dominates. But when he was ‘the villain’, the one who challenged Mercedes, people really liked him.”Montoya also discussed Max Verstappen‘s recent performance at the Nordschleife. The 28-year-old driver recently won his debut race in the NLS. “Racing outside of Formula 1 is not very common,” Montoya explained. “For many fans who cannot attend a Formula 1 race – either due to cost or because there are currently no races in Germany – this was a unique opportunity to see Max in action. Moreover, people suddenly had the chance to race against him. Many probably signed up just to share the track with him. If you look at it that way, it’s incredibly cool.”
