Max full of gratitude at Honda Racing Thanks Day: 'An incredible feeling'

Published on 28 November 2022 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen was joined by Oracle Red Bull Racing team mate Sergio Perez and both AlphaTauri drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly at the Honda Racing Thanks Day 2022 at the Mobility Resort Motegi. Apart from the four Formula 1 drivers, other stars from the world of motorsport were at the event, such as multiple MotoGP world champion Marc Márquez.

Max was delighted to attend the event. “It is an amazing day. I am very happy to be here. Incredible to see so many fans here today, to celebrate this day together with all the drivers. A big thank you to Honda for organizing this day.”

On the Saturday, Max ventured out for his first laps of the Motegi circuit, driving a Honda NSX-GT.  “I have driven the track a bit on the simulator, but on Saturday I had my first real experience. It is a beautiful track. I used to watch the MotoGP here, but yesterday I could drive the track myself in the Honda Super GT car, that was a great experience. It is a very nice car, it has very good brakes. The power compared to the weight, the ratio, is amazing, so I had a smile on my face while driving.”

The Honda Racing Thanks Day comes of the back of a successful Formula 1 season, where the Dutchman claimed his second drivers crown with a record-breaking fifteen wins. “That’s an incredible feeling. It have been two amazing years. This year was even better. To achieve that together with Honda, and all the efforts they have put in over the years, to be here today, to have won two titles together, that is an incredible feeling.”

Max clinched the title in Japan, at the iconic Suzuka circuit. “That was like a dream come true, for the whole team as well. We really wanted to try to win the title in Suzuka. That made it even better. When that became reality everyone was really happy and very proud.”

After a kart race, won by Márquez and Verstappen, Max was presented with a special gift, a Honda NSX Type S. “It is very enjoyable working with Honda. This year, we had a lot of power. You could see that of course on the straights, where we always were one of the fastest. That helps a lot and contributed a lot to the success we had this year with Red Bull. Thank you for that.”

The event finished with Max completing a demo in the Red Bull Racing RB16B, sporting the white Arigato-livery. Together with Pierre Gasly in the AlphaTauri AT01, the world champion pulled of some synchronised donuts to end a special day.