‘The most important thing…' – Max Verstappen reveals the blueprint for team-mates to BREAK infamous Red Bull curse
MAX VERSTAPPEN has revealed the blueprint to break the daunting curse of being his Formula One team-mate.
Verstappen, 27, is a four-time F1 world champion with Red Bull.
3
3
However, his team-mates during his time with the outfit have often failed to live up to expectations and rival the Dutchman.
But speaking on a new Viaplay documentary celebrating his first decade in F1 - 10 Years of Max Verstappen - he has now revealed how anyone who drives next to him can overcome that curse.
He said: "How I would deal with it [racing with me]? Try not to think about it too much you know. It's always important to focus on yourself.
"That's what I've done when I've entered new teams or had to go up against team-mates.
"So that's the only thing that you can control and influence so that's why it's always the most important thing to look at yourself."
Verstappen was promoted to the Red Bull senior team from Toro Rosso in 2016, and became the youngest ever Grand Prix winner at 18 years and 228 days in his debut race.
But dating back to 2016, Verstappen's team-mate have often endured a tumultuous time.
Daniel Ricciardo was the first to fall in the Verstappen test when he quit the team to join Renault in 2019.
Verstappen's next team-mate was Pierre Gasly in 2019, who only lasted half a season before he was swapped for Alex Albon.
Albon fared little better in the 2019 and 2020 seasons before he too was replaced by Sergio Perez in 2021.
'People can't handle the truth' - Verstappen FUMES after being given five-second penalty and takes swipe at F1 bosses
The Mexican managed the tricky Red Bull car the best during his three seasons behind the wheel, managing to win five races with the team before a disastrous final season saw him axed.
Rookie Liam Lawson then joined the team for the start of the 2025 season, but he lasted only two races - in which he never came close to scoring points - before he too was replaced.
Yuki Tsunoda is now the incumbent of the most cursed seat in modern F1, but managed to score two points in his second race in Bahrain before an unfortunate retirement at the Saudi Arabia.
Verstappen missed media duties on Thursday due to the expected birth of his first child with partner Kelly Piquet. The due date is May 6 - two days after this weekend's Miami Grand Prix in Florida.
But SunSport understands Verstappen delayed his flight out to the United States to be at home with Kelly in Monaco.
Kelly also has a daughter, Penelope, from a previous relationship with ex-F1 star Daniil Kvyat, who Verstappen has a very close bond with.
Although it was reported his private jet was seen leaving an airport in Nice on Thursday morning, and Red Bull insist he will be expected to complete his racing duties this weekend.
His future next year has been cast into doubt though after he was tipped to take a year out from the sport by an unnamed F1 driver.
And in the documentary Verstappen declared it was "not fun being famous" and revealed the one thing he wishes he was able to do but can't due to his career in the spotlight.
The ace, who earns a cool £52million a year, said: "It's not fun to be famous, I prefer to be unknown. But I know that's part of F1 especially when you do well.
"Of course I would sometimes like to be able to walk around with your family and friends and not be known, but unfortunately that's not the case anymore."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
British F1 driver apologises to Max Verstappen over Spanish GP controversy
Oliver Bearman has owned up to potentially impacting Max Verstappen's race in Spain after the Red Bull driver tried to lap the Haas before his George Russell controversy Oliver Bearman has apologised to Max Verstappen if he interfered with his race during last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver finished tenth after a time penalty, but originally came home in fifth. For a period he was looking to break the McLaren 1-2 stranglehold and went after Lando Norris with the pair having to negotiate back markers as they lapped those further down the field. Bearman was among them, but he was also involved in a tussle with Liam Lawson. The respective battles occurred at the same corner and Lawson found enough space to go down the inside of Bearman at Turn 1, with the Haas driver taking to the run-off and following the route back onto the circuit. Norris was first on the scene as he looked to slalom his way through the two cars. He quickly got past Lawson, but had to wait until Turn 5 before he got past Bearman. Verstappen also dived through down the inside, but felt he'd been hampered and waved a hand in anger at the rookie. He was asked about Verstappen seeming frustration as Bearman replied: 'Yeah, I'm not sure why. I need to have a look. But, I am sorry if I did anything bad to him. It's tough to manage everything that's going on in the race, and he just went on my inside. I wasn't trying to do anything bad, of course, but I'm sorry if I held him up.' Verstappen himself would apologise the day after the race after being involved in a highly controversial incident with George Russell. He was told to let the Mercedes past as his Red Bull team deemed that he may have kept fourth illegally as the pair tussled. The Dutchman eased off to allow Russell past, before accelerating into the side of the Brit. He eventually let him past, but his act looked deliberate and it earned him a ten second penalty which tumbled him down the order. In the aftermath of the incident Verstappen asked "does it matter" whether he deliberately drove in to Russell - with the Mercedes driver admitting the fiery world champion has those moments in him, which detract from his brilliance. Once the dust had settled the Red Bull driver came out and said on social media: 'We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. 'I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you [at the next race] in Montreal.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Thomas Tuchel's reason for choosing England over Man Utd - 'Straightforward'
Thomas Tuchel was among the favourites to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, but the German opted to venture into international football with England Thomas Tuchel admitted it was the focus on football that was his reason behind accepting the England job instead of replacing Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Prior to the Dutchman's sacking at Old Trafford last October, Tuchel was among the favourites for the job following the summer talks he had with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Tuchel - who'll lead his side in their World Cup qualifying clash against Andorra on Saturday - opted to ignore United's overtures as he was announced as new manager of the Three Lions less than two weeks before Ten Hag was dismissed. Despite the interest from the Premier League giants, the ex- Chelsea boss admitted it was an easy decision to make the foray into international football for the first time in his career because of the onus that was placed on football in the presentation he received from England executives. "The idea and the way John [McDermott] and Mark [Bullingham] presented it was very fast and confidential," he said when asked why he took the role ahead of waiting for United. "It was very straightforward, it was a decision for this job and not against anything else. They made it clear it's about football and that got me excited," he continued. "I wasn't sure this was the job for me because the schedule is very different. I always wanted to come back to England, that was my big goal. "The offer came at the right time and we found a vision to share. Now I have to live up to it. I know there are some trophies and I want to help that happen." Tuchel has won his first two games in charge of the Three Lions, with a 2-0 victory over Albania in March opening his England account before his side secured a comprehensive 3-0 win over Latvia three days later to top Group K. Having signed an 18-month deal, the contract will see Tuchel lead England out for the 2026 World Cup – providing they get there. And he previously insisted the quality of talent he has at his disposal means there are high standards for his team to live up to. "We have players who compete in the strongest leagues in the world day in, day out," he declared. "We will need luck, momentum, luck to not have injuries and so on. "We feel confident to add something from our experience in club football that can maybe help. We have to prove ourselves all the time. We have to live up to these standards but I'm confident everyone is used to that." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Bruno Fernandes' four-word wish came true after Man Utd transfer exit confirmed
Bruno Fernandes delivered a heartfelt message to former team-mate Donny van de Beek after he escaped his Manchester United nightmare by leaving the club last summer Bruno Fernandes' wish for former Manchester United team-mate Donny van de Beek has come true, with the Dutchman saying he 'finally feels like a footballer again' after leaving the Red Devils. Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford in 2020 from Ajax in a £35million deal when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge. But he failed to set Old Trafford alight under the Norwegian, gradually losing confidence and form to the point where he couldn't even establish himself once his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag took the reins. The midfielder made 62 appearances across his miserable four-year spell at the club, which also included unsuccessful loan moves to Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt as United sought to recover some of his transfer fee. The 28-year-old finally escaped his United nightmare by joining La Liga side Girona last summer in a deal worth a reported £420,000, which could rise to £7.6m. It made him United's first high-profile departure of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era, after the arrivals of sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox. After Van de Beek confirmed his move to Girona, his former United captain Fernandes delivered a touching message on social media. Fernandes' four-word message read: "You deserve the best," along with a red heart. The Portuguese, who joined in January before Van de Beek's arrival in the Premier League, will now be glad to know that Van de Beek is enjoying his football again in Spain. The former Netherlands international made 35 appearances for Girona this season, including seven in the Champions League, while scoring three goals and assisting two in all competitions. Van de Beek opened up about rediscovering his form in December, telling Voetbal International:"My role was played out at Manchester United, so at the beginning of this year I wanted to make minutes elsewhere. "The choice for Germany seemed nice, and don't get me wrong, Eintracht Frankfurt is really a big and beautiful club, but I really was lost around there. I was a loan player for a few months and then it is very simple: then you just have to deliver from the first game and impress. But I just couldn't. "I got that far, needed rhythm and a series of games, only that was simply not possible. The result was that I was going to drive myself crazy. I had to show what I could do in a competition, which made me do way too much and I got away from myself." Turning his attention to Girona, he added: "I enjoy it again. The fun, enjoying the game. That is so important and I have missed that feeling for so long. I finally feel like a footballer again. "I think I've made more minutes this season than added up in the past four years. That says enough. The good feeling is back, I feel confidence again and the sacred fire in me has been fueled. Finally." Fernandes had appeared to be nearing his own move away from United in recent weeks. Following the crushing Europa League final defeat by Tottenham, speculation grew that the playmaker was open to leaving United if a big offer came in for him this summer. Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal were said to have held progressive talks with his representatives, while Red Devils bosses were reportedly willing to cash in on their skipper, who turns 31 this year. But it has since emerged that Fernandes rejected Al-Hilal's lucrative offer after mulling things over with his wife. Explaining his decision, Fernandes said: 'It was a very ambitious proposal. The president was a fantastic person. We never discussed the amount [initially]. With my agent? Of course. 'Then, I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career. She was someone who always supported me a lot. 'It was an easy move, even at a family level. I had Joao Cancelo there, my children are used to playing with him in the national team, we have a great friendship. But I want to maintain myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions, and I feel capable of it.' Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
