Max answers questions from Olav Mol and Hornbach-visitors

Published on 22 November 2015 by Mike Motilall

There is always something to do at Hornbach. As this was also the case, some two weeks ago, during the opening of the new outlet in Best where Max Verstappen, took on the five finalists of the Verstappen Simulator Competition. In a race that lasted five laps on the circuit of Interlagos, the Dutch Formula 1-driver had to bow his head to the experienced sim racer Bono Huis. He took home the first prize.

After the simrace, Max was asked some questions, on the podium, by Ziggo Sport reporter Olav Mol. Asked about the training program of the 18-year old Scuderia Toro Rosso driver, Max replies: “I make my most training hours during the winter. I train five to six days a week, twice a day. Your back and neck take a pounding during driving, so that’s what we focus on. But also the abdominal muscles are very important. You can find me a lot in the gym, but I also like to go out to cycle or to run and things like that. The purpose is to strengthen your entire body. But not by working out too much on fitness equipment, it’s not ideal if I bulk up or get too heavy.”

Max doesn’t have any particular pre-race routine. Except one thing: he always gets in his car from the left side. Max on that: “Even since I started with motorsports, I have always gotten in from the left. I think I deviated once from that and things immediately went sour, so I will stick with getting in from the left. Besides, you have more room there as well.”

The mechanics often have, in the big Formula 1-teams, consisting of hundreds of employees, a less glamourous role. But not for Max. “I have tremendous respect for my mechanics. They are longer on the road and more away from home than us drivers. They are constantly busy with the car. My meetings are always with the engineers of Toro Rosso, but I always go see the mechanics so I can thank them in time.”

The Toro Rosso factory is located in the Italian Faenza and many mechanics are Italian. Do you speak Italian? “I’m struggling with it somewhat. Luckily, most of the mechanics speak English well and the few that don’t, I still have a laugh with them, even though we don’t perfectly understand each other. A lot of the engineers are English. Except of course Xevi Pujolar, my Spanish race-engineer, but he has always worked in England.”

What’s on the agenda after you have finished doing interviews after a race? “I then have a meeting with the engineers and we also take a look at portions of my own race. On my steering wheel, I am able to enter markers during moments when I feel something or when something happens. We can then retrieve that and analyse.”

The great gathering at Hornbach Best is also given a chance to ask questions and they are more than eager to seize the opportunity. What made you decide to go and do Formula 1? Max: “I have never seen anything else than motorsports. But of course, you need to like it yourself, and I liked it since I was four. From that point on, I have grown and gotten more professional. Then, you start dreaming of Formula 1 and after I went into motorsports, that became my ultimate goal. Luckily, I was able to achieve that.”

From go-karts you were able to work your way up to the pinnacle of motorsports. Do you have a tip for a rookie go-karter? “A good coach is very important. Besides that, you need to try to drive a lot, this means every Wednesday afternoon and every weekend.”

Who is or was your biggest role model? “My father Jos. We did it all together and also experienced a lot of things together,” says Max, whose reply is spontaneously met with a great round of applause.

For which F1-team would you like to drive for? “It makes no difference to me. As long as they are the fastest!” Should you turn world champion, you are able to choose between the numbers 1 and 33 the following year. Which one would it be? “I don’t know yet. I first need to be world champion, then I can decide which number it will be.”

On the podium, the successful event in Best is ended with the question how Max looks back on this season and looks forward to the coming one. “This season has been very positive. I have learned a lot and that is very important. I am happy with the amount of points scored, the two fourth places and qualifying has also been good off late. So far, I am very pleased. Hopefully, next year we have a very good car again and an engine we can get some more power from, so we can be more at the front.”