Max Verstappen reveals why he snubbed Lewis Hamilton's F1 film red carpet in favour of changing smelly nappies

The Sun

4 hours ago

MAX VERSTAPPEN would rather be changing nappies at home than wearing a tuxedo on the red carpet.
They certainly don't make 'em like four-time world champion Verstappen anymore, who has been as real as they get this season in the world's most luxurious sport.
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The Dutchman has swerved two red carpets for Lewis Hamilton 's new Hollywood movie, starring Brad Pitt, and has not even watched the film yet.
He would rather be on dad duties with his two-month old baby Lily, enduring sleepless nights and changing nappies which he admits: 'Some are more smelly than others'.
Verstappen has also been dipping his toes in other areas of motorsport, like testing a GT3 in Spa during the first F1 movie premiere in New York as his patience continues to wear thin in F1.
He is focused on his growing family of girlfriend, Kelly, the daughter of former F1 world champion Nelson Piquet, their daughter Lily and his step daughter Penelope, who are based in Monaco.
Verstappen, at the Red Bull Ring ahead of his team's home race in Austria, told SunSport: 'Being authentic is not something I have to try and focus on. It's just who I am.
'I don't like to be on the red carpet and dress up in a suit. I don't like to interact with people that I don't really know, and have a fake smile and fake chat. It's horrible, I just don't enjoy it.
'I prefer to hang out with my friends and spend time with my little family. I also have a lot of other projects going on outside of F1.
'So any extra work like red carpets is not what I want to do. I'm at a stage of my career where I've achieved so much professionally.
'I'm just focusing outside of it now, like my big passions to make life more enjoyable and not just being performance driven.'
Verstappen is fiercely private when it comes to his family but when asked about his being a girl dad, he added: 'It's super cute. I'm trying to spend as much time making it all work.
Max Verstappen goes for a spin around the upgraded F1 circuit at Zandvoort
'With the nappies, some are more smelly than others!'
Verstappen rose to fame as something of a villain due to Netflix's hit docu-series Drive to Survive.
It didn't help that his route to his first world championship title in Abu Dhabi in 2021 was tarnished by a safety car mishap which many felt stole the crown from Lewis Hamilton.
There is also a dark side there, which was on show at the Spanish Grand Prix three-weeks ago when he rammed into George Russell to leave him one point away from a race ban.
But he has won over more hearts than ever in recent years, being unapologetically himself and unafraid to stand up to the sport's governing body, the FIA, and its controversial president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
He even won over his old rival Hamilton when he was ordered to do community service for dropping an F-bomb in an FIA press conference last year.
He has remained tight-lipped in press conferences this season, but his silence has spoken volumes for the dissatisfaction from most drivers towards the FIA's rules.
He said: 'I think it's a bit of a Dutch thing. I'm straightforward. I'm the same on track. I say the same in the paddock as I do with my friends. It's important to be honest.
'When I'm not happy with something I say it, I let people know, that approach works really well for me.'
There has been constant speculation surrounding Verstappen's future with him growing increasingly exasperated with the FIA and the slog of marketing requirements for drivers.
After all he is the centrepiece of a sport stacked with millionaires flashing their cash, designer outfits and superyachts - but Verstappen just loves to burn rubber.
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The Dutchman would rather avoid the spotlight entirely, so much so that he recently used a fake name Franz Hermann to secretly test a Ferrari at the Nurburgring where he smashed a lap record.
Verstappen's next goal is securing a Nordschleife permit, a special racing license, to compete in events at the Nurburgring, including the Nurburgring 24 Hours, rather than chasing records in F1.
There has been talk of Verstappen taking a year off in 2026 and he says it is outside ventures like the Nurburgring appearance that are keeping him in F1, for now.
He added: 'The fake name was because I wouldn't be on the entry list. People would have known way far in advance and there would be way more people there.
'What I'm doing outside F1 makes me stay around a bit longer in F1. I'm trying to make it work and keep it fun.
'I want to get my license (Nordschleife permit), so I need to do a race in a slower car so I'm planning on that.
'When you do things outside of F1, it's more relaxed, which doesn't mean it's less professional and my desire to win is the same. It's something I really enjoy exploring.
'It's important to enjoy my time. Time passes so quickly and I want to look back and be around for my family.'
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