As a racing purist through and through, Max Verstappen enjoys watching old footage on YouTube. He confesses to cherishing the rich history of Formula 1 more than the current era, which seems to be regulated down to the last detail. “I once had the opportunity to drive a 1965 Honda. It felt like a leap back in time for me.”
As a toddler, four-time world champion Max Verstappen often strolled through the Formula 1 paddock, hand in hand with his father Jos and mother Sophie. Sometimes he comes across photos, even on social media, of him with Michael Schumacher or another great from that era. “Nice photos! But if I’m completely honest, I mainly remember playing during those weekends. For me, the paddock was one big playground.”
Max, the Enthusiast
Max Verstappen sits relaxed at a table in the Red Bull hospitality room in Montreal. A conversation themed ’75 years of Formula 1′ seems to be a form of relaxation for him. The smile never leaves his face. For once, there are no tricky questions about collisions, lost championship points, looming suspensions, and the lack of effective upgrades, where he constantly has to weigh his words, but just talking about the history of the sport and his own contribution to it. Max, the enthusiast, speaks.
Jacky Ickx, the Belgian F1 legend from the sixties and seventies, made a poignant remark recently. “Whenever Max sees me, he always stops to shake hands and have a chat. That touches me. I’m from a different era, he wouldn’t need to know me.”
It says a lot about Max Verstappen. He has respect for the history of the sport and the champions of yesteryear.
“I sometimes watch classic race footage, even on YouTube, the highlights of old races. I find that beautiful,” Max Verstappen shares. “You also see how quickly everything changes, the sport and the times.”
A Wilder Era
“When you look back at the 1970s, it was clearly a wilder time in motorsport. More was allowed, both on and off the track. But that was simply the world back then. At the time, it was absolutely fantastic, although racing was somewhat more dangerous. However, the drivers of that era had the advantage of being able to move more freely. They didn’t have to deal with social media and such. But well, the world changes and we all have to go along with it. Nowadays, everyone and everything is more closely monitored, unfortunately.”
“I’ve discussed this with Nelson senior (Piquet, his father-in-law) and my own father. We always come to the same conclusion, namely that they probably didn’t enjoy it enough back then. That’s something you often hear from people once they’ve retired.”
The 70s and 80s Symbolize Old School Racing
The seventies and eighties also symbolize old school racing. More gravel traps and walls, less tire management, runoff areas, and track limits. I presume that appeals to you more.
“Yes, definitely. I love pure racing. And the real circuits that we still have on the calendar. I find classic circuits more enjoyable to drive on than tracks with less character. Zandvoort, Suzuka, Spa-Francorchamps, those remain top circuits for me.”
Concerns About the Direction of the Sport
Do you ever worry about the direction the sport is taking? Do you feel the right choices are being made to continue to captivate fans in the long term?
Max Verstappen laughs at the dilemma he feels. Then: “Nowadays, unfortunately, you have to be careful with what you say, as statements are quickly picked up. But if I may express myself diplomatically: I’m not a fan of street circuits.”
Gravel Traps
“In the past, there were gravel traps everywhere, which was actually much better. But some circuits we share with MotoGP, who don’t like gravel traps. So sometimes it’s not down to Formula 1 and it’s just the reality. I can’t change it, but I would certainly have liked to see certain things differently, that’s for sure.”
You’re not alone. Here and there, the discussion is being held whether the sport should return to the whistling sound from the era of the atmospheric V10 and V12 engines…
“That would mean we have to go back to using earplugs. I think not only the drivers, but certainly also the fans in the stands would absolutely find it better and more beautiful. That sound and the extra decibels evoke much more emotions, it makes the total experience of watching an F1 race much more intense. As a little boy, I used to wear earplugs. It wasn’t even about the pure speed, but just the sound alone… I always found that very impressive. Admittedly, the current situation is perhaps a bit better for hearing, but for passion, it would be better to go back to the loud engines of the past.”
Formula 1 has been visiting more and more countries without a real motorsport culture for several years now. It’s a choice mainly for the money. In addition, there is the hope that motorsport in the respective regions will get a boost…
“I understand that. Ultimately, you hope that a motorsport culture will also emerge in those countries. But if it were up to me, the calendar would look very different and also have fewer races. Circuits that, in my opinion, would deserve a special status and should always be on the calendar, purely on sporting grounds, are Spa, Zandvoort, Silverstone, Imola, Suzuka, and Brazil for me.”
And secretly also the Nürburgring Nordschleife?
“Haha. That’s not going to happen with the Formula 1 cars we have now, I’m afraid. With GT3 speed, it’s okay and still manageable. I have seen old footage from time to time, also of Formula 1 on the Nordschleife… Then you know one thing for sure: Formula 1 there, that will never happen again. Much too dangerous.”
Speaking of danger: the sixties, also known as the Killer Years. About ten percent of the grid in Formula 1 died annually. Can you imagine that, appearing at the start on Sunday as a driver with the knowledge that it could be the last time?
“That’s a bizarre thought now, of course, but at the time it was the reality that was also considered reasonably normal. It was part of that time. Maybe, if we speak again in twenty, thirty or forty years, we will look back on the period of now and also say: ‘What were we actually doing? This is quite crazy.”
Technical Evolution
“The technical evolution in forty years will be less significant than the progress we’ve made in recent decades, including in safety, but times change rapidly. And with that, people’s perceptions also change. In the past, people were less aware of the dangers of motorsport, but when you look at some old footage now, you think: ‘Gosh, that was incredibly dangerous.’
“In 2019, I had the opportunity to drive a 1965 Honda on the oval test track in Tochigi. It was the classic RA272, which once secured Honda’s first victory in Formula 1. Driving that car was a huge adjustment. I barely fit in, there were no seat belts, I had to shift gears with a foot clutch, something I hadn’t done in a while, and the fuel tank was right next to me. Yes, they were like moving bombs. So, it was crucial not to hit anything, haha. But it was an amazing experience. What a sound! It felt like a leap back in time for me.”
Since then, the sport has become much safer, but do you ever consider the dangers of the sport? Perhaps more so now than a few years ago, as you’ve gotten older?
“Racing will always be dangerous. You are aware of the potential dangers involved in certain high-speed actions.”
The same weekend Max Verstappen made his debut in his very first Formula 1 Friday practice in Japan 2014, Jules Bianchi experienced a chilling crash on Sunday, which later proved fatal. He is, so far, the last fatal casualty in the premier class of motorsport. There have been several fatal accidents in other classes since then, such as F2 driver Anthoine Hubert in 2019 in Spa-Francorchamps and the Dutch talent Dilano van ‘t Hoff two years ago on the same track.
Enormous Impact
Verstappen: “These are accidents that have a huge impact. You know that our sport carries risks and that on very unfortunate days, these kinds of terrible accidents can occur. Often, such an accident is a culmination of bad luck. Bad luck in the extreme. When such accidents happen, you try not to dwell on it for too long and push it away, but that’s easier said than done. The hardest moments are when you see the parents or other family members with their grief. They have to deal with the loss for the rest of their lives. Those moments, of course, touch you deeply. In that sense, the impact on me is not so important, it’s about the enormous suffering that family and friends endure. All drivers know the dangers of motor racing, but when something like this happens, it remains very, very terrible.”
A Lighter Note: Your Contribution to Formula 1 History
On a lighter note, when we talk about the history of Formula 1, you have significantly contributed to it with four consecutive world titles and a number of historic victories. Would you like to pick out three, your personal top three?
“Barcelona 2016, of course. My first victory in Formula 1, in my first race for Red Bull. My fondest memory of that particular weekend is the moment on the podium when I looked down, saw my father and Raymond standing there, and realized: We did it! Because this was always the dream. I also remember that I didn’t sleep much the night after the race. I had a bit too much water, haha.”
“I didn’t expect that victory at all. I was new to the team and there had been quite a bit of criticism of my promotion to Red Bull beforehand because people thought it was all too soon. I was very emotional shortly after the race. I’m not naturally an emotional person, but what I felt after the race was very close to crying.”
Heart Attack
“The second moment is Abu Dhabi 2021. I don’t need to relive that Sunday myself, preferably not, because then I fear a heart attack. The whole season was very intense with a climax in the last lap of the last race.”
Races or Seasons That Could Be Made into Movies
These are races or seasons that could be made into movies later because they are so captivating. Comparable to the rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in the late eighties.
“Well, I don’t need to see myself in the cinema later. But that whole season was very intense, with two teams pushing to the limit. And that’s something you have to admire and what’s good for the sport. Two teams that made so few mistakes throughout the season, that was very beautiful and special.”
Laughing: “Especially if you’ve won it, then it’s a bit more fun to talk about.”
Max Verstappen during the interview: “When things go wrong, it inevitably brings about frustrating frustrations.”
“As a racer, it was a unique season to experience, but in all honesty, I prefer a dominant season like 2023 with nineteen victories. When things are not going well, it inevitably brings about frustrating frustrations. I notice that this season as well. And that is especially noticeable if you have had a number of very good years before.”
And then number three, I estimate: the rain race in Brazil 2024, when you drove from P17 to victory? Do you also enjoy during such a race?
“No, not during the race. Also not because the tension was high in the championship. I could not afford a misstep. I don’t always watch all the races in full, but I did sit down for this one later at home in Monaco. Also because as a driver you naturally don’t get everything that happens around you during the race.”
How does that work, looking back? With a drink and a bag of chips on the couch?
“Yes, something like that. Or in the simulator, I also watched it back that way.”
Finally, speaking of history. The Dutch GP in Zandvoort will also soon be history, after 2026. Completed past time, so to speak. Do you consider yourself lucky that you were able to drive that race a few times and even won it three times?
“Absolutely, that remains very special. These are also races that brought a bit more pressure, especially in 2022 and 2023 because everyone expected me to win easily given the balance of power. But it wasn’t that easy. That ultimately made it extra beautiful, also because of the setting with all that orange. I cherish such moments.”
