Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAX IS FEELING NOT BRAD NOW
» Verstappen goes on holiday to... Milton Keynes » Bucks fitness guru: We understand each other
MAX VERSTAPPEN aims to be Baku to his best today – with help from topquality British engineering.
The reigning champ resumes his quest to make it three championships on the spin in Azerbaijan after a three-week break in which most of his rivals have been soaking up the sun.
However, the Dutch ace has shunned the hotspots and the chance to top up his tan by putting in the hard yards.
The 25-year-old has instead spent time with his British fitness coach – and the engineers at Red Bull’s base in Milton Keynes.
Verstappen has been gushing in his praise of Bradley Scanes, 35, who has become one of the most trusted men in his inner circle.
The two met at the Circuit de Catalunya back in 2019. Scanes has a varied background in the sport, having also worked alongside gymnast Max Whitlock as part of Team GB. When not in Buckinghamshire, the team’s director of human performance has been flown out to Monaco to maintain his employer’s fitness regime.
Scanes said: “We understand each other – the atmosphere between us is really great – it’s always relaxed.
“It has to be because F1 is one of the most demanding sports.”
It was not unusual in the three-week break between the drivers’ last outing in Australia and their latest race by the
Caspian Sea for teams to be given down time. All the
Red Bull mechanics were given one week’s leave and
Mercedes granted race team employees extra rest days over Easter.
Verstappen has been struggling to shake off a virus that bugged him throughout March. He reported being below par physically in Jeddah and Melbourne – and the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix could not have come at a better time.
But the Dutchman chose to iron out issues in the simulator with the engineers.
He feels humbled by the amount of work being undertaken on his behalf and felt it
only right that he left his penthouse apartment in Monaco to work with Christian Horner’s staff.
Around 80 of 1,000 regularly travel to the races and those not directly involved have waited for the chance to introduce upgrades to the cars ahead of the weekend in Azerbaijan.
The updates usually take around two months to develop and a string of teams, including Alpine and McLaren have already announced they will be making improvements to their cars.
Given Verstappen’s input during recent weeks, it also appears inevitable that leading constructors Red Bull will be doing likewise.
Scanes is one of the most trusted men in Max’s inner circle