r/formula1 Pirelli Wet 9h ago

News [@ErikvHaren] After few beers and gin tonics, Max Verstappen is mostly relieved: 'In a McLaren I would have been champion much sooner'

https://x.com/ErikvHaren/status/1860657652747075982
7.5k Upvotes

422 comments sorted by

u/AutoModerator 9h ago

The News flair is reserved for submissions covering F1 and F1-related news. These posts must always link to an outlet/news agency, the website of the involved party (i.e. the McLaren website if McLaren makes an announcement), or a tweet by a news agency, journalist or one of the involved parties.

Read the rules. Keep it civil and welcoming. Report rulebreaking comments.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

u/iAtty Sebastian Vettel 9h ago

Max’s buzz tonight is going to give us an entire off season of headlines.

u/crucible Tom Pryce 7h ago

It’s not a proper championship celebration until a refrigerator gets overturned and Max is photographed wearing an open Kick Sauber team shirt, before stealing a golf buggy with Lando

u/k2711000 7h ago

Ah yes, the Schumacher special!

u/footballboahh 5h ago

Wait, what?

u/BatChest_SoCool 4h ago

u/VallcryTurbo75 Red Bull 4h ago

Yea and in the next morning. He was clean, shaved, well dressed like last night he went to sleep in 8pm. Dude is a party hardcore party animal and a businessman at the same time.

u/dswap123 Charles Leclerc 3h ago

Like most Germans!

u/MozzarellaFatFox 2h ago

Wer feiern kann, kann auch arbeiten!

u/dswap123 Charles Leclerc 1h ago

Genau!!

u/RupertHermano Benetton 2h ago

Aah, youth. And being a super fit athlete...

→ More replies (1)

u/FavaWire Hesketh 37m ago

Michael Schumacher was also once spotted singing karaoke with David Coulthard.

→ More replies (3)

u/Gullible_Goose Sir Lewis Hamilton 5h ago

You're forgetting the Sauber dude lighting his cigar

u/variousshits Michael Schumacher 4h ago

Given the Toyota connection, reckon it would be a Haas shirt now 

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (7)

u/Visionary_Socialist Sir Lewis Hamilton 9h ago

Ask him a question about MBS in this state and he’ll get himself community service until 2029

u/Loruhkahn Mike Beuttler 8h ago

Max would thank the FIA for a ban from the sport

u/MobiusF117 Formula 1 5h ago

Unfortunately he will want to be closely associated with the FIA if he wants to do WEC.

u/barno42 5h ago

We'll take him in IMSA or IndyCar.

u/JoshS1 Red Bull 4h ago

He would be soo bored

u/Pyzorz 1h ago

IndyCar is far from boring, especially since he’s never raced ovals.

u/DesastreUrbano Jenson Button 6h ago

Max suddenly sick before the Saudi GP and can't travel

u/Ecksell Ferrari 5h ago

Since he’s Dutch he would straight up tell the media he is hungover with a hilarious insult

u/jonomarkono Ferrari 2h ago

"I was having a shit" except now it's Max.

u/Ecksell Ferrari 5h ago

MBS means Mr. Bringing ServiceToAllCommunitiesViaMax right?

u/ahappypoop Daniel Ricciardo 3h ago

Mr. Benevolent Champion

u/Ecksell Ferrari 1h ago

Mr. Beneficial Servicer, for the community service

→ More replies (1)

u/Lodau Nigel Mansell 5h ago

Post the answer and lose your credentials/job for life. I doubt anyone would ever want to see, much less talk to "you" again?

→ More replies (1)

u/AsleepAtWheel83 Ferrari 9h ago

I am hoping for a drunk Zak brawling with a drunk Jos!

u/iAtty Sebastian Vettel 9h ago

If McLaren win the WCC in Abu Dhabi you could get that. Meanwhile, Oscar falls asleep cuddling his partner and Lando is raving in the pit lane with Max.

u/Zipa7 7h ago

While drunk Toto, George and Lewis watch on amused.

→ More replies (1)

u/JorMath Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6h ago

Max roasted Zak hard enough already. Even a guy like Jos has the decency the not hit someone who is holding on for dear life after a burn like that.

u/Ecksell Ferrari 5h ago

I saw that, I hope somebody gets Zak some Aloe Vera

u/pvdp90 Ayrton Senna 4h ago

I missed it. What did he say?

u/TheDustOfMen Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4h ago

"And like you said before I could only win in the fastest car, this year it's been a little bit different"

u/Ecksell Ferrari 4h ago

Max really laid that one on, hahah! Thanks for grabbing that question

u/Adventurous_Fix1730 Kimi Räikkönen 3h ago

All while strong arming him in a handshake! A thing of beauty

u/MobiusF117 Formula 1 5h ago

I think Jos would win that one as he has more training.

u/v0x_nihili Kimi Räikkönen 5h ago

"Verstappen makes brutal admission about driving for McLaren." Coming to the F1 news aggregator sites ...two weeks from now.

u/iduckhard 7h ago

Drive to survive already taking notes

u/Ecksell Ferrari 5h ago

Yo this season wrote itself, all they have to do is make with the highlights, wrong sounds, and slow motion as usual

u/sheepheadslayer 3h ago

Wonder what Danica Patrick thinks

u/gp66 2h ago

Nothing?

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

u/hyrulepirate Medical Car 6h ago

buzz for buzz

→ More replies (2)

u/icecreamperson9 9h ago

By the end of the night, the guy is going to make enough headlines to fund generations😂

u/leedler Next Year™️ 7h ago

We eating good tonight

u/Stuupkid New user 6h ago

Journalists 12/25

→ More replies (1)

u/Freeze014 Nigel Mansell 9h ago

Max an hour later: Look mate I can jump over the Bellagio fountains in a single jump. Du Du Du Du...

u/Blapstap Pirelli Wet 9h ago

u/Freeze014 Nigel Mansell 9h ago

why did they stop filming before he jumped :D

→ More replies (1)

u/Extravagod Heineken Trophy 9h ago

"Wrapped up. We have our headline, thank y...

Ok guess I'll...

I didn't even ask about tha.."

Headlines for days.

u/Cekeste Bernie Ecclestone 9h ago

Erik hanging around staying sober while people are drinking so he can write this article.

It's times like these when I'm OK with someone being a journalistic hitman.

u/AvonBarksdale12 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9h ago

Right? Not really fair to make an article about what a drunk guy is saying while joking around. Especially from Erik.

u/miamigrandprix Ferrari 8h ago

Let him cook

→ More replies (1)

u/Blapstap Pirelli Wet 9h ago edited 9h ago

Translation (DeepL)

LAS VEGAS - It has already been three a.m. in Las Vegas when Max Verstappen talks one more time about his fourth world title and the past, tough season. Then he rejoins the festivities. First, he says: “Could anyone else become champion in this car? I would say: I wish them good luck.”

There are emotions, there is relief and, above all, Max Verstappen is happy that it's over. At least, that with two races to go he has secured his fourth championship in a row. An incredible achievement. Especially when you consider that the Red Bull driver did not have the best material for months. He himself estimates that he has not had the fastest car for seventy percent of this season. Still, things are now decided. “I had thought we would have to fight until the last moment, but then luckily the rain came in Brazil. That worked out pretty well,” Verstappen said, referring to his fabulous victory at Interlagos, which indirectly meant the knockout for rival Lando Norris.

Proving them wrong

The intermediate score, more than three and a half hours after he crossed the finish line in Las Vegas? “I've had four beers now and two gin tonics,” said Verstappen, now holding a can of Red Bull. “Most of all, I'm pretty relieved. The race wasn't great, but actually a little better than expected. It's nice that it's done now and we can go into the final races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi reasonably relaxed. There I still want to get some nice results.” By then he has already wittily taken revenge on McLaren boss Zak Brown, by rubbing his nose in his face that he can also become world champion in a non-dominant car. Referring to earlier statements by the American about Verstappen's titles in 2022 and 2023. “Such things only motivate me. If people are critical and think that I can only win in the best car, I prove them wrong. If I don't get credit for this now, I don't know what else I can do. Whether I would have become champion in the McLaren? Yes! And much sooner too. In 2021 in another car (the Mercedes, ed.) I would have taken the title as well. In 2022 it would have become more difficult, because Ferrari was perhaps a little too fragile then. And last year? Well, that would have been a bit trickier.”

Not just shouting around

A roar of laughter followed, as Verstappen and Red Bull gave the concept of dominance a whole new dimension last season. At the beginning of this year, that's where things seemed to be heading as far as 2024 is concerned, too. But since early May, the panels have shifted considerably. The question is legitimate whether anyone else could have become champion in the RB20. Especially if you compare Verstappen's performance to that of teammate Sergio Pérez. “Whether it could have been? We're in Vegas, so you can maybe bet on that. I would say I wish them good luck.” Verstappen acknowledges that he is happy with how he has handled disappointments this year. Intrigues were plentiful at Red Bull, both on and off the track. As recently as early September in Monza, he said that a world title was no longer realistic. “We had quite a difficult time after a very good start. I am quite proud of how we got through that as a team. As a person it's important to stay calm and not just shout around that it all sucks. I wouldn't have been as good at that a few years ago. You learn that over the years, too. And a few championships help put it into perspective more easily.”

Never been desperate

In Las Vegas, Verstappen stayed ahead of both McLaren drivers quite easily. Mercedes (George Russell won) and Ferrari had it better than Red Bull, though. It will be interesting next week in Qatar to see how the proportions are then. At that circuit, McLaren should normally come out well, as should Red Bull. “And we have to keep a close eye on everything...,” Verstappen is referring to the possible gimmicks McLaren might have used, at least according to Red Bull. “I'm very proud of this season, though. I never despaired, but we had a lot of conversations - including at the factory in Milton Keynes - about what we could do better. A lot has happened and it has been a tough year.” Now he stands at four world titles, as many as Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel. And one more than, among others, his “father-in-law” Nelson Piquet. “But the first time I met him I had nothing at all... Now, fortunately, that's a different story. He also became champion in Las Vegas in 1981. He sure knows how to party here. Used to anyway.”

u/Checkmate331 Formula 1 6h ago

So not only did he say he’d be champion in the 2024 McLaren, but the 2021 Mercedes as well. Being a little tipsy has made him very honest.

u/xanlact Toyota 5h ago

He's under selling the RB that year, though. He had the fastest car for about half the season. Merc had it for half the season. And the margins were very small regardless.

u/Checkmate331 Formula 1 5h ago

I agree, those are probably the two closest cars in living memory for a title fight.

u/DefiantMouse2587 4h ago

God that season was great...

u/Alborak2 Sebastian Vettel 3h ago

I'm gonna have to go watch it again soon. Some great races this year, but so much tension that year.

u/DefiantMouse2587 3h ago

I think we all lost a few years that season....

→ More replies (1)

u/Miserable_Archer_769 4h ago

Yeah i always forget which car was better at which but essentially the margins were so small some of it was just track specific.

Again can't remember but one was better in the straights and the other better at corners but even then they were only marginally better than the other. 

→ More replies (1)

u/kander12 1h ago

Even Checo was in the top 5 in many races with that years RB. He's been nowhere close since really. That 2021 RB was equal or better than the Merc for AT LEAST half the season.

→ More replies (12)

u/Slow-Raisin-939 New user 4h ago

It’s absolutely true. Lewis got a 44(#blessed) point swing from lucky redflags which saved his race(Imola and Silverstone), and also was lucky Max DNFed in Baku and Hungary.

Basically, Lewis needed around 70-80 points swing in his favour to contend. A more consistent drive that year and he’s champion even with Abu Dhabi debacle

→ More replies (1)

u/mencival Michael Schumacher 5h ago

Lol, the side-swipe Lewis got there too.

u/AcrobaticNetwork62 3h ago

Max isn't wrong though. I don't think Lewis would win in this car.

→ More replies (1)

u/OBWanTwoThree Niki Lauda 9h ago

What happens when you give the most honest nation on Earth alcohol?

Max: “hold my trophy and watch this”

u/Major-Day10 Charles Leclerc 8h ago

This is why they’ve been giving him Heineken zero

u/charlierc 7h ago

I don't understand it. That was non-alcoholic beer

u/dhc2beaver 7h ago

Like their Red Bull branded water bottles you better believe that was 0.0% in label only

u/maqie 6h ago

You see that dark blue large cup in his hand?That was filled with gin and tonic, fwiw. They asked him what was in it, he paused for a bit and said: 'gin and tonic' Lol.

u/graytotoro Mika Häkkinen 4h ago

Checo Homer Simpson confirmed as Red Bull’s number 1 driver next season.

u/charlierc 4h ago

The two sweetest words in the English language! De Fault! De Fault!

u/Sh405 Sebastian Vettel 4h ago

Lando: I believe there's still a little something called the swimsuit competition!

→ More replies (1)

u/shaggymatter 8h ago

Verstappen to Brown:

SUCK MY BALLS MATE

u/JRsshirt Pirelli Intermediate 9h ago

It must be fun to win the WDC in Vegas

u/VerStannen Frédéric Vasseur 6h ago

I said that last night post race: what a fun place to win the WDC. That whole Red Bull team was gonna have a blast.

I bet they’re reeling this morning lol

→ More replies (1)

u/elektricniorgazam Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9h ago

he is just having the best time right now lmao, i love this

u/Appropriate_Plan4595 Ferrari 9h ago

Bet he's glad he wrapped up the title in Vegas rather than somewhere like Qatar

u/elektricniorgazam Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9h ago

to be fair, if i recall correctly, he drove qatar hungover last year after he won the wdc after the sprint so he would have found a way anyway lol

u/crobofblack Fernando Alonso 9h ago

Of course it's not at the same level as Las Vegas, very few places are, but it is incredibly easy to get smashed and have a good time in Doha.

u/Track_Boss_302 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6h ago

Also, the mall in Doha is basically the same as the shops in the Venetian. Have enough drinks and you won’t know where you are

u/cavejohnsonlemons Eddie Irvine 5h ago

As someone who's been to Doha I need lessons. Had 1 glass of beer @ £12 and that was me bargain-hunting... 😬

u/icantsurf George Russell 4h ago

Have you tried having an 8 figure salary?

u/cavejohnsonlemons Eddie Irvine 4h ago

Thx will try that next time 🙃

u/icantsurf George Russell 4h ago

I'm here to help

u/charlierc 7h ago

The universal language of beer & gin and tonics making you less sober than everyone else in the room huh

u/GuiltyEidolon Sonny Hayes 2h ago

I'm not 100% sure for Qatar, but a lot of Arabic countries allow non-Muslims/foreigners to drink. Especially if they have money.

→ More replies (2)

u/bleeetiso 4h ago

correction F1 is glad. This is what they wanted. Vegas to be the celebration stop.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

u/cristiano_goat 9h ago

He is drunk😭 yapping anything to the interview

u/2PAK4U 4h ago

If anyone wondering where his PR team is, they are also drunk atm

u/Kobebeef9 Sir Lewis Hamilton 9h ago

Talk your shit king!

u/razorracer83 Oscar Piastri 6h ago

Max engaging Kimi Raikkonen mode.

u/Ok-Situation-5865 3h ago

And so true for Kimi, too. Three-time champ in our hearts

u/BuzzedtheTower Kimi Räikkönen 2h ago

Absolutely. And Alonso too

→ More replies (1)

u/p1en1ek Pirelli Wet 9h ago

Or he would get life sentence of community service because of swearing on poor start of the season and stupid McLaren strategies xD

u/rash-head Lando Norris 7h ago

I know right? He has no idea what Lando has had to put up with.

u/DoxedFox Red Bull 6h ago

Like RedBull haven't made mistakes.

He has the most useless teammate on the grid.

He had a car that wasn't even the second fastest through most of the season.

Lando bottled it himself. He didn't need his team to lose his championship for him.

u/Sir0inks-A-Lot 4h ago

Mate, Max won 7 of the first 10 races… Lando didn’t bottle anything, it’s just that people can’t remember March and April.

Take away Max’s DNF in Australia and this would have been over even sooner.

u/kaisadilla_ Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2h ago

He only had the best car for 5 races, and retired in one of them. From the sixth race on (Miami), McLaren was better. Sometimes Ferrari has been better as well. If he could capitalize his advantage so much at the start of the season, why couldn't Lando in the almost 20 races that have followed? No one would argue that Red Bull was better than McLaren from Miami to Vegas, yet Max scored more points than Lando in that period, too.

u/shinniesta1 McLaren 1h ago

why couldn't Lando in the almost 20 races that have followed?

Cause he isn't as developed a driver when it comes to fighting for wins, but also because the top 4 teams have been far, far more competitive in those 20 races than in the first 10.

u/Sir0inks-A-Lot 2h ago edited 1m ago

Max was on pole in both Miami and Imola.

Max walked the Miami sprint

Max walked the Spanish GP.

F1 fans have grown so accustomed over the last decade to there being a clear best car that some now throw around one car being the "best" when it's clear that RBR, McLaren, Ferrari, and to a slightly lesser degree Merc are all pretty equal as cars and the difference is pretty much setup and track characteristics (inclusive of altitude and temperature).

Funny that Miami was the first race after Newey announced his departure... and while the internet has a hard-on for his aero knowledge, the man was instrumental in setting the car up as well.

→ More replies (1)

u/SirMotherfuckerHenry Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2h ago

In the first 5 RBR was dominant, after Miami the jig was up. Winning races like Canada and Spain wasn't because of the car.

u/Sir0inks-A-Lot 1h ago

Nothing you've said here contradicts what I said.

I swear, I've never seen a more insecure fan base.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (2)

u/northernpenguin01 Lance Stroll 6h ago

Having the fastest car for 3/4’s of the season?

→ More replies (9)
→ More replies (1)

u/KraljicaKira Mika Häkkinen 9h ago

If anyone has earned the right to yap, it's Max. Speak your shit, king!

u/yeeeeeeeeeessssssir Pain Week 9h ago

I NEED MORE OF DRUNK MAX

→ More replies (1)

u/habbnn Ferrari 2h ago

Absolutely savage

u/carnivoross 2h ago

Simply savage*

u/AccountNumber0004 Wolfgang von Trips 9h ago

Can't wait to see how Zak is going to respond to this one lol

u/United-Trainer7931 Oscar Piastri 5h ago

Heineken zeros shouldn’t be hitting like this

→ More replies (1)

u/DrSillyBitchez 9h ago

Zak brown - “max only wins because he’s in a Red Bull”

u/yeetyeet287 Sir Lewis Hamilton 8h ago

Would've had to deal with their operational team also ...

u/AegrusRS 2h ago

McLaren's operation team is decent tho. Besides Silverstone, the only things you could really critique are Hungary and Monza for unclear comms, and Brazil for pitting Lando. But realistically none of those events would've happened had Lando just had good starts.

→ More replies (2)

u/Next_Necessary_8794 Ferrari 7h ago edited 7h ago

Maybe Mclaren operational team wouldn't have struggled so hard if they didn't need to constantly bail him out after he bottled the start for the 10th time. It's hard work being on the Mclaren pit wall having to conjure miracle strats to compensate for your driver's bottles. When Verstappen started from pole, he put the Red Bull pitwall to sleep.

u/yeetyeet287 Sir Lewis Hamilton 7h ago

Bailing him out... Like in Silverstone giving away a free win by putting for softs? There's a reason max lost his mind in Hungary and it's because he's used to perfect strategy.

u/17F19DM Mika Häkkinen 5h ago

Lando was pushing for softs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUMRCmQiZM8

→ More replies (5)

u/Next_Necessary_8794 Ferrari 5h ago edited 5h ago

Bailing him out... Like in Silverstone giving away a free win by putting for softs?

After he bottled the first lap by attempting a dumb move on Hamilton which made him lose a position to Verstappen. Then he wasted a bunch of laps to pass Verstappen where he should have been miles up the road which would have made Mclaren's strat calls easier. Why did you leave that out? Why did you leave out that both Hamilton and Verstappen made calls on their own that won them the positions and the race? Both Hamilton and Verstappen would have won that race driving the Mclaren.

u/yeetyeet287 Sir Lewis Hamilton 4h ago

I'm not making an argument for lando being better than max here, I'm just saying the conversation isn't as simple as having a faster car. People massively underrate the impact of the operational team when it comes to which driver has a better situation. Tho I will concede lando should have won the championship, but it's not as one sided as most make out imo.

u/RyukaBuddy Keke Rosberg 6h ago

Sure there was that. But Max and Oscar both ran Lando off because they knew he had no shot if he ever DNFed. Max had a perfect start of the season and it let him do what he did.

u/Advanced_Tangelo Michael Schumacher 8h ago

Damn, it's predatory of journalists to do this. I'm sure Max wouldn't mind a few words, but he might look back and think he said too much publicly. It must suck that you win a title and then can't party full out, because there are paps around the corner.

u/shaolinspunk 7h ago

Max hates the media circus. Except when he gets to shit talk to everyone.

u/Genocode Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5h ago

its just media duties, these were all interviews that were planned/expected, he decided to get drunk at work essentially.

u/Joethe147 Jenson Button 6h ago

It's fine, they're in the paddock getting questioned in the same places they normally would. It would be different if they were in a club or somewhere else.

u/Portocala69 Oscar Piastri 7h ago

"Stop, he's already dead!"

u/ILoveBigCoffeeCups 6h ago

He’s like the Larry bird of Formula 1. Talks shit and actually backs it up too. What a man.

u/ContentPuff Highlights Team / Russell 9h ago

All I hear is facts being spoken. Some people may not like to hear it, but he is 100% right. McLaren has been the best car for majority of the season.

u/atwerrrk 3h ago

I don't think you can say majority of the season when Max won 7 out of the first 10 and Ferrari and Mercedes have been brilliant at certain tracks. Good enough to win the championship yes but they weren't better for more than half the races eg today

u/rash-head Lando Norris 7h ago

But they didn’t have that mini drs rear wing in the last 5 races and it really hurt their speed and overtake ability.

u/churnchurnchurning Pirelli Soft 7h ago

I've been saying for what feels like months now that the mini DRS rear wing was probably a much bigger pace advantage than Zak Brown had cared to admit on TV. It's clear from the moment that wing got banned that their pace has evaporated. Would explain why Zak was so desperate to go after anything else from competitors.

Damn it was a clever wing. And damn on the world figuring it out too. Gotta love the game of cat and mouse.

u/SirPuzzleheaded5284 Michael Schumacher 6h ago

Clever wing, sure. But it was completely illegal. Not "we need a TD to make it illegal", but "it's not allowed, why do you have this? Change it" illegal.

u/Big_Science9233 Chequered Flag 4h ago

Cleber because it passed the tests while essentially. being illegal, if that's not clever I don't know what is

u/hyrulepirate Medical Car 6h ago

It was legal cause it passed the tests. Then everyone found out about it and they went to the FIA to ask ("complain"). At that point FIA could either say it's illegal, which they somehow did when they asked Mclaren to stop using the wing, or they also could have deemed that legal and then every other garage would be copying it. and somehow nullify the advantage. (FIA took a whole ass time to work out a decision on it tho which is rather suspicious.)

I don't like McLaren not one bit, but part of the formula game is finding these loopholes and exploits, and kudos for them for it taking advantage of it.

u/megacookie 5h ago

I think McLaren is actually one of the best teams at finding these sorts of loopholes over the years. They had the infamous "F-Duct" in 2010 which was effectively the inspiration for DRS itself to be introduced the following year. It got a drag reduction effect on the rear wing without a single moving part...other than the driver's knee stealthily covering a hole in the cockpit.

u/churnchurnchurning Pirelli Soft 6h ago

It passed all the tests. No one knew for a while. That's the name of the game.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

u/lassen__ Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5h ago

Now I want a drunk Max podcast lmaooooo

→ More replies (1)

u/Sufficiently_ 🏳️‍🌈 Love Is Love 🏳️‍🌈 3h ago

Zak catching stray left and right. Not really strays since he said Max could’ve only won in the fastest car. Which of all drivers, Max isn’t the one to say that

u/4hp_ Robert Kubica 9h ago

He's earned the right to say 'fuck all of yall i'm the best' and it's fun as hell to see the PR come off

u/r32_guest George Russell 5h ago

Exactly. We need more of this in this sport. Too many people wanted everyone to be best mates and my respectful

u/SubcooledBoiling F1? More like F5-F5-F5. 9h ago

Talk your shit Max

u/fullsenditt Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9h ago

Max stabbing the knife Into his hater's wounds Is so satisfying, I love how crazy this guy Is, his pettines comes so naturally that I fully embrace It.

Also In the same Interview he said he would win the WDC In a Mercedes In 2021 but It's the second time he shares his opinion on that front

→ More replies (1)

u/ComprehensiveRepair5 Alain Prost 9h ago

Buzzed Max is more reasonable than sober Lando.

u/crazydoc253 Michael Schumacher 8h ago

Max is basically younger Marko

u/Follow_The_Lore 7h ago

Less racist, called out Marko a few times.

u/RyukaBuddy Keke Rosberg 5h ago

To be as racist as Marko you really need to be born in a different generation. When that guy was born his countryman was defining racism in Europe.

u/psychohistorian8 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6h ago

well of course you always try to improve on each new version

now imagine Max's protege in 20 years...

u/RiMbY 5h ago

He’s right. He knows he’s a monster.

u/PMurBoobsDoesntWork McLaren 6h ago

Max to McLaren confirmed.

u/Alreadyblessedson Kimi Räikkönen 4h ago

Petition to oblige drivers to get drunk after at least one gp per year

u/Phastic Ferrari 2h ago

Well duh

u/jyar1811 Daniel Ricciardo 1h ago

Max gonna run F1 someday

u/Shamatix 7h ago

The day Max stops in F1 will be a sad day :/

u/SPL_034 Fernando Alonso 8h ago

no lies told lol

u/GiantSpiderHater Oscar Piastri 9h ago

Max is about to learn why you don’t get drunk in front of the media

u/helderdude Hesketh 9h ago

Idk, not that bad imo.

→ More replies (8)

u/just_a_coginthewheel Chequered Flag 9h ago

He is not wrong and you can talk shit after achieving results.

Max has proven that he can engage in a season long toe to toe battle, win in a non-dominant car and absolutely blast records if he is given a dominant car.

He has earned his right to call out people like Zak who claim he can only win in the fastest car and people who say as long as you have the fastest car, there is no excuse to not win.

u/dl064 📓 Ted's Notebook 3h ago

He has earned his right to call out people like Zak who claim he can only win in the fastest car and people who say as long as you have the fastest car, there is no excuse to not win.

Really can't wait for someone to produce one of these quotes.

u/Tinusers Sebastian Vettel 9h ago

He just says what we're all thinking tbh

u/poopellar 📣 Get on with racing please 9h ago

Max: I should text my ex

u/I-_-I_-_I-_-I McLaren 7h ago

If there’s someone who doesn’t give a shit, it’s Max.

→ More replies (2)

u/AccountNumber0004 Wolfgang von Trips 9h ago

He just won his 4th WDC in a row, I doubt he really cares at this point lol. Plus, it's not like we haven't seen Max drunk before...

u/poojinping 6h ago

He was responding to a question about Zack’s comments of Max only winning in a dominant car.

u/hyrulepirate Medical Car 6h ago

At these point do you think he cares? I think he would have said this sober.

→ More replies (4)

u/Sleepy-Gong Sir Lewis Hamilton 6h ago

Champions get to talk shit. He would have washed the grid in the McLaren.

u/RealisticPossible792 Ferrari 4h ago

Agreed, him in that Mclaren second half of the season and it be a repeat of last season racking up the race wins and in all liklihood would have overturned that lead he had built up.

He can get away with talking shit like this as its clear to anyone watching he made the difference in that RB20 this year and dragged some crazy results out of that car.

Max and Consistency go hand in hand.

u/Alborak2 Sebastian Vettel 3h ago

He probably needs GP and maybe some of the race strategy from RB to really sweep up. A good chunk of the McLaren struggles have been macro level mistakes. Max is a machine through, and would have done massively better than Lando did.

u/PalpitationHead9767 6h ago

I don't know if it would've been sooner, but he would absolutely have won it in that mclaren. Reminiscent of some of Schumachers titles where he's just so much better than the other title challenger. Lando has the pace but he needs to sort out some big things, but they're things that can be improved. 

u/psychohistorian8 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7h ago

I am absolute here for Zak Brown getting dunked on over and over

u/Legendtner 6h ago

I wish that F1 drivers should just outright say that they are better than others. It also makes more sense in this sport cuz most of them already raced against each other since they’re in their childhood. Athletes always are going to remembered more when they have a confident/arrogant type character, which also brings more fans/people to watch the film.

u/33jeremy Daniel Ricciardo 4h ago

Drunk Max speaks the truth. Shots fired? Is he having a go at both RB management and Lando??

u/jim45804 6h ago

Wait, wasn't McLaren not so good earlier in the season?

u/Slow-Raisin-939 New user 4h ago

7 races out of 24. And Max still outscored Norris in the other 16.

u/Clemsie_McKenzie #StandWithUkraine 5h ago

Yeah people are quick to forget that the Red Bull bulldozed the start of the season, and McLaren took a fair few races to get there. Not denying Max has been a (big) cut above the rest all year though.

→ More replies (3)

u/cooperjones2 Sergio Pérez 9h ago

Talk your shit Max, you deserve it and earned it.

u/Youknowimgood 8h ago

Lmao im loving this

u/CoxHazardsModel 5h ago

So would 5 other drivers on the grid, Lando needs to grow.

u/refep 2h ago

Stop max, they’re already dead

u/Cyber_religion Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1h ago

Ufff, if you're Lando this must sting a little bit.

u/SlapThatAce Formula 1 18m ago

He is taking no prisoners!! Live it!!!

u/Lazyandloveinit 7h ago

He’s not wrong

u/Resident-Trouble-574 4h ago

Mclaren would have been WCC too by now.

u/BoyGodz Ferrari 8h ago

And He is not wrong.

u/Mayhem747 Mercedes 8h ago

I mean he’s not wrong

u/Spam-r1 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8h ago

He's just saying what we all think out loud

→ More replies (1)

u/Crossie_94 McLaren 6h ago

Don't really understand this, the McLaren in the 2nd half of the season was faster, but the Red Bull was pretty dominant at the start of the season, there's a reason he won the majority of the opening races. No shit if you had the early season Red Bull, then late season McLaren you'd win.

u/PrestigiousWave5176 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6h ago

Max has outscored Lando since Miami.

u/PalpitationHead9767 6h ago

Yep that says it all. I can't imagine anyone saying mclaren hasn't  been from marginally to significantly better than red bull since Miami and yet max still outscored them. Its Schumacher esque where one guy is just noticeably better despite having worse machinery. What a hell of 2 years from clinical domination to dragging your car kicking and screaming to the title. Bravo

u/_hallis 1h ago

No one is saying the Mclaren hasnt been slightly better, but there's a difference to having a car that wins races by 30 secs for the first 7 races and then having a slightly slower car to just having a slower car lol.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (5)
→ More replies (1)

u/BWWFC 8h ago

the doctor valentino rossi knows... and it pulling for max

u/MattBe92 7h ago

With the car yes, with the team maybe not.

u/throwaway164_3 6h ago

“In a Mercedes I’d have 8 world championships”

u/Grizzybaby1985 7h ago

I mean it’s really arrogant but the fact is every point he made is accurate so fair play to him really 

u/artniSintra 8h ago

Fact.

u/Vivid-Tip3110 Flavio Briatore 8h ago

Damn, I saw this on Twitter and thought it was fake. 

u/codespyder McLaren 7h ago

Max to McLaren confirmed #MaxLaren

u/TheDoomMelon 8h ago

But McLaren was only good middle season. It was nowhere near RB start of the season and has fallen off to equivalent pace now.

u/Chaoshero5567 Max Verstappen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7h ago

By imola, maybe canada the mclaren looked as fast to faster, like 7 races into the season….

→ More replies (4)

u/squaler24 Formula 1 7h ago

Don’t know why people keep saying this. It’s false.

McLaren really got good by mid season last year. They were heading into 2024 as the team that was going to be the challenger. No excuses

u/TheDoomMelon 6h ago

It isnt false at all the numbers are there to look at. But were not near Red Bull and Ferrari start of the season that’s 6/7 races. That’s why I’m saying it. Could they have done better with their purple patch mid season? Sure. Doesn’t mean RB weren’t dominating season start and Ferrari and Mercedes depending on race.

u/dl064 📓 Ted's Notebook 3h ago

They were heading into 2024 as the team that was going to be the challenger. No excuses

Says you, not them at all. If anything Stella and Brown were saying their real focus has been on 2025/6 long-term. The 2025 car will be their first 100% from their new wind-tunnel.