Verstappen opens up on 250th Grand Prix, fatherhood and hobbies in exclusive F1.com Q&A

Milestone weekend in Singapore

This weekend Max Verstappen will celebrate his 250th Grand Prix on the streets of Singapore, a milestone in the Dutchman’s trophy-filled Formula 1 career that began just over a decade ago.

To mark the occasion F1.com sat down with the four-time World Champion and put fan questions to him on his F1 journey, off-track interests, future hopes and more.

Advice, wet weather and racing memories

Asked by Emma, UK for the best advice ever given to him, Verstappen said: “Just be yourself! Stay with two feet on the ground. I think that’s the most important.”

On the 2024 Sao Paulo wet race praised by Andy, Canada, Verstappen recalled: “My teeth hurt from clenching when I watched it. Best race I have ever seen… Well, I mean, I had another race in Sao Paulo in 2016 that was probably… I would say even worse in terms of visibility at times. But yeah, it’s just… You’ve practiced a lot in your life driving in the wet in general, like racing in the rain. Yeah, the visibility at times is not great, but it’s the same for everyone, so you just have to deal with it. But for sure it was an insane race, and for me at the time, of course, a very important one to win.”

Off-track life

Alexandra, Ukraine asked which driver he’d trust to babysit his cats. “Probably Alex Albon, because he has cats himself, like quite a few, so he definitely knows what to do!”

Evan, Norway asked about a surprising new hobby: “Well, I started playing padel like a few years ago now. I never really played any kind of racket sport before, so I didn’t know that that was on the horizon, but I enjoy it a lot.”

On being a new dad, Nancy, Canada asked about the best part: “The best part… I mean, just spending time with her and seeing her grow, seeing that it’s your little girl. That’s definitely the best part of it.”

Future and legacy

Asked by Robert, UK what he’d do if not racing, Verstappen said: “I would still, I think, work in motorsport, but probably more in like a manager role or trying to just advise young talents – if I wouldn’t have succeeded in F1.”

On values, Verena, the Netherlands asked what guides him: “Trying to live it as relaxed as possible, not really caring too much about stuff, social media… Just live your life normally, happy, with the people that you want to live it with. Try to keep it just very simple: keep life very simple.”

On legacy, Alice, Czech Republic asked what he wants to be remembered for: “Uhm, what do I want my legacy to be? As long as, I think, people can remember me as just being honest, straightforward, and always being myself, not trying to act like a different person suddenly… For me, that’s the most important, just to be remembered exactly like I am.”

Elsewhere Verstappen said he would pick Spa, early 2000s F1 cars, maybe like 2004, and his dad as the ideal track-car-opponent combination, and that his childhood nickname was non-existent: “I didn’t have any, because my name is nice and short! Max is very easy.”