Max on staying fit and his personality: “Being relaxed works for me”
Published on 23 May 2017 by Mike Motilall
Max Verstappen has given us some insight, during the Jumbo Racedagen at Circuit Zandvoort, on what it takes to drive a Formula 1-car. Also on staying in shape to be able to do so. The Dutchman also talks about his personality.
Driving a Formula 1-car gives an enormous kick. Is there something that Max can do in his personal life that even comes close to that? “Water skiing, jet skiing or burning the road on a motorbike”, says Max. According to him, it is comparable, but on a different level: “When you go go-karting, you are slower, but the circuit is also shorter. So the scale is pretty much the same.”
Working out remains essential to keep in shape and being able to extract the maximum from a race weekend. Especially with the new rules that have made it even harder for the drivers. How does your work out look like? “In the winter I work out six days a week, twice a day. Those sessions are pretty intensive. During the season, it’s a bit less. It also depends on the schedule.”
Max doesn’t find it odd that not everyone realizes how fit you need to be in order to be able to do this sport: “It is also hard to explain until you have taken a seat in it yourself.” The best work out is, according to the Dutchman, the actual driving of the car: “You can train as much as you want to, but in the car you eventually still use slightly other muscles as well. Oddly enough, you cannot get it ready the way you want it to be. The best work out is still the driving of the car.”
Is the body of the Red Bull Racing-driver ever sore? “Only when you get back in the car after a month or two”, says Max. “It is also nice to be able to just do nothing. So you can take some time off for family and take a vacation.” But racing is never far away for the Dutchman: “Even though I have a month off, you cannot do everything you would want to. You know that you will need to be fit again in order to perform. It’s always in the back of your mind.”
Despite his tender age, Max Verstappen has a grown up attitude towards life. Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing’s advisor, has compared him once mentally to a 26-year-old university student. How much space does Max actually have in his life to be aware of what is happening outside of racing? “I always enjoy reading the newspaper and knowing what is happening in the world. In the end it is something that keeps you pondering. It doesn’t always have to be about racing.” That needs no extra focus according to the Dutchman: “I don’t even give that a second thought, I just do my own thing. It is also a bit innate I guess. Racing is always number one, but I do enjoy being knowledgeable on other things. Not per se in full details, but it is nice to have some information.”
Verstappen is also asked how is it possible for him to be so down to earth. How is it that he can cope so well with adversity? “It is important not to get frustrated, because then things take a turn for the worse. You always need to keep a positive attitude and get the best out of yourself. That should also give you satisfaction. My father used to say that I was too relaxed. Maybe I still am, but it works for me.” That it can still happen once in a while, is completely normal: “Of course, sometimes you get frustrated and then things go wrong. Like when you go off track or when you touch someone. It cannot always be under control, but you try to balance it.”
