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Verstappen strikes again: Formula 1 is like a zoo
2026-10-15 17:12:00 / SPORT
Max Verstappen felt like he had reached the end. And when you reach that point, it seems like nothing works anymore, neither in the car nor in life. “Especially during the first weekends of this season. I had never experienced such a feeling before,” says the Dutch driver, who remains the same: ironic, competitive and ruthless on the track. But in the long interview given to the Dutch newspaper “De Telegraaf”, a somewhat different portrait of him emerges.
The Dutch Red Bull driver can be emotional. Or, at least, he knows how to accept it when things don't go well. For example, the start of the season was not at all what he had hoped for. Too many changes, too many new concepts in Formula 1. Max even thought about giving up, but in the end decided to continue. Meanwhile, his harsh criticism of the world of F1 did not go unnoticed. Was he looking for more followers on social networks? Not at all! "That was not my intention. I simply express what I think and say what, in my opinion, is wrong, giving suggestions on what can be improved," Verstappen declares.
Without a doubt, the new 2026 engines have influenced the start of his season. Red Bull was fast, but not always enough to stay ahead of Mercedes. Now things have changed for the better and Max has won two races in a row, also the car is responding to rivals with dignity. Of course, Verstappen has a strong character. We are not discovering this today.
"Sometimes I get criticized by some people for the way I behave, but maybe that's because they don't understand what I mean. In the end, though, it always comes down to whether something is right or wrong. It's just that in some cases it takes a little longer than in others," says the 29-year-old, who has no filters: he either accepts it or not. At Red Bull they have accepted this side of his character.
They have even decided to keep him on the team until 2030: "I feel really good about the people I work with and the way we function as a team. For us, the result comes above everything else, it's the most important thing. But you also have to feel comfortable and understand that you are valued. That's exactly what happens here." Of course, nothing can be said with absolute certainty, but Max has a clear objective: "The year 2030 is the goal."
MAX'S ZOO
Verstappen had also knocked on McLaren's door, but the talks did not go further. His desire remains only one: to win. He made this clear in the interview with the Dutch newspaper. Verstappen is not just an egoist who only thinks about speed. He is a winner and, precisely for this reason, wants a fast car. But Verstappen would also like a quieter "paddock", with less noise and useless conversations.
The problem is that Formula 1 has become a kind of catwalk, where not being present means being left out of the circle where the important things are happening. "The paddock really is like a zoo these days. You often can't even exchange two words with anyone, in fact, you can't do that at all anymore. So I spend my weekends moving between my little room and the pits."
The team's reception areas are not always a peaceful space either. "Even in our reception areas, there are many guests who want something from you," Vershtappen says, admitting that some of them "have good intentions," but emphasizing that, as a driver, he also needs to be able to rest. "I need to be able to relax, without being constantly disturbed by others," concludes the four-time F1 world champion.
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