Max Verstappen recently starred in a YouTube video by Ford Performance. Alongside automotive journalist and presenter Chris Harris, known from shows like Top Gear, he tested one of the American car manufacturer’s latest speed machines. In candid conversations with Harris, a disarmingly honest image of the four-time world champion emerged. Harris admitted afterwards that he was surprised by this side of Verstappen.
In The Car Podcast, Harris reflected on the video and interviews with Verstappen for the first time. The British presenter addressed the negative image many Britons have of the Dutch driver and how it does not match reality. “Most people in the UK have a distorted image of Verstappen,” said Harris. “And that’s why I’m so proud of this video.”
‘He’s just one of us’
Harris wanted to use the video to paint an honest portrait of the real Max Verstappen, not just the formidable and sometimes stoic driver we know from grid interviews. “It would be too much to say that we really changed how people think about him,” he admitted. “But we did show who he is. And honestly, he’s just one of us. A very, very uncomplicated man who happens to be born with incredible skills. No one can really understand how he drives a race car.”
“It’s even more bizarre that he’s aware of his talent and can articulate what he does,” Harris added. “He just chooses not to reveal all his secrets in our video. But that’s what makes it fun, right? He’s not going to divulge his secret recipe. Honestly, he was just very relaxed and a pleasure to work with. I don’t want to come across as some kind of sycophant – if he had been a jerk, I would have said so,” Harris concluded with a wink. Verstappen was also enthusiastic about the collaboration. In the video, he admits that he usually doesn’t like media obligations, but genuinely enjoyed his time with Harris.
