UNDERCOVER MAX
He won’t drop mask even for basketball, in case Covid strikes
MAX Verstappen is not exactly world-class at shooting basketball hoops. There is what might be called his dubious technique and an official return of two baskets from 10 attempts.
right in the middle of the paddock in sunlit Austin, all the drivers who will compete in the US grand Prix tomorrow were invited to try their hand at free throws. Most joined in. lando norris, stricken by a bad cold, was one who didn’t.
Verstappen did his bit for the show. He, like the rest of the grid, was asked to take off his mask for the task. He declined the invitation. This fearless driver, an alpha-male, felt he had too much to lose by agreeing to the request. Yes, Covid may be the easiest way he can forfeit his claim on a maiden world title.
regardless of the efficacy of masks, Verstappen is taking no chances in this regard. His interviews are mostly done by Zoom to minimise contact with human beings. He has not contracted Covid so far and he knows that should he go down with the ailment his title fight with lewis Hamilton could be distorted beyond reason.
Just six points separate the two men with six races remaining, including this one in Texas.
of the Covid threat, Verstappen said: ‘i try not to think about it too much and do what i have been doing so far. i cannot lock myself up at home all the time. if you get it, you get it, and you are super unlucky. There are people who have been very strict about it and still got it, so i have to do what i have been doing.’
This race marks the first time since the 11th-hour cancellation of the Australian grand Prix last year that journalists have been allowed into team motorhomes. Mclaren, always the most welcoming of teams, offered beakers of wine and beer to celebrate the landmark breakthrough on Thursday afternoon.
Poor norris looked gloomy beyond his mask. His eyes were sore as he struggled with fatigue and illness.
He thinks he will be OK to race, adrenaline being the mend-all therapeutic it is, but he admitted he was struggling to sleep against the six-hour time difference.
He was, however, pleased to be named, aged 21, in this week’s fans’ survey as the second most popular driver in the world behind Verstappen, and favourite among the female audience.
Verstappen, whom norris is trying to match at the forefront of the new brigade, joked of his no 1 status: ‘My life is complete. it’s nice that they voted for me.
‘i guess they like my driving style, and people perhaps appreciate that i am straightforward, honest and i am just myself.’
Verstappen can be belligerent, too. He says it as it is. Timo glock, the former Toyota journeyman whom Hamilton passed in dramatic circumstances to win his first world title in 2007, suggested last week that the Dutchman would have punched the British star after their coming together on track in Monza, for a second time this season, had he been a few years younger and rawer. Would he have?
Verstappen said: ‘i do get older and more experienced but i don’t necessarily think i would have punched lewis before.
‘nobody likes to get together in the race but sometimes these things unfortunately happen. They have in go-karting and in F1. We all have low moments with someone, but we are human beings and we can move on. We can forgive.’
Hamilton finished behind teammate Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes dominated the opening practice session. Bottas, who will serve a five-place grid drop following another engine change, ended the one-hour running just 0.045sec ahead. Verstappen took third, a distant nine-tenths back.