Max ’ s lap of honour
HOLLAND MEDAL FOR KING OF SPEED AS RB BOSS JOKES: DO WE CALL YOU SIR NOW?
EXCLUSIVE Neil Moxley
By
MAX VERSTAPPEN is Formula One royalty on the track – and now he is nobility off it.
This week the Dutch ace was mysteriously asked to ditch his race overalls, smarten up and ready himself for a police escort.
Not the way the world champ would usually approach a Grand Prix on his home track in Zandvoort.
But then, this was no ordinary day – Verstappen was being given the Order of Orange-nassau, a Dutch award for chivalry.
And afterwards, as Verstappen headed out for his first practice on Friday, Red Bull chief Christian Horner (right) joked over the radio: “What do we call you now... Lord Max, Sir Max or Super Max?”
In fact it is the equivalent of receiving an OBE in the UK and, for once, Verstappen had been in the dark about what lay ahead around the corner.
He recalled: “I had to get up early and dress neatly, which was far more different than normal – I didn’t know what I was going to get. It was a big surprise. And it’s very special when you are handed something like that.
“It was formal. But that’s how it should be. It’s a special medal, but it won’t be pinned on my race suit. It will get pride of place at home.”
The award was not part of the weekend that the 24-year-old had planned.
The championship’s leading driver holds a 93-point advantage over Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez going into the Dutch GP.
But he had wanted the spotlight to be focused upon a tribute he was looking to pay to his father, Jos.
The two have been a team ever
since Max was four – old enough to accompany his dad to karting events. And so Verstappen had commissioned a helmet with a special design – based upon the one his dad used to wear.
Verstappen Snr won’t be at the track today as he has contracted Covid, but was clearly moved by the gesture, and said: “It’s a nice initiative and a great gesture by Max.
“It’s wonderful that he thinks about what I had, and what he says about it. Of course, I deal with him every day and know where he stands on what I did, so it’s great he recognises it like this.”
Tight
The track at Zandvoort is regarded as one of the tightest on the circuit.
However, work has been undertaken to make it more hospitable to overtaking.
The reigning champion said: “The whole transformation is great to see. It has been super smartened up in recent years.
“They’ve really done their best. OK, it’s on the small side but we also drive in Monaco – so it means nothing in that respect.”
The new configuration appears to suit Ferrari, but Verstappen’s masterclass at Spa will have left doubts in the mind of the Italian team.
If it turns out we don’t have a dominant car, we have to make sure we score as many points possible
Verstappen added: “Ferrari will be stronger here than they were last week. “But I’ll only be satisfied with a victory. If it turns out that we don’t have a dominant car, we have to make sure we still score as many points as possible.”