Verstappen arrogant or confident? 'I say something back then'

Some call Max Verstappen arrogant, yet most find the three-time Formula 1 world champion confident. The Red Bull Racing driver is usually averse to PR talk and says exactly what he thinks. Whether the outside world likes it or not. It makes him loved, but also sometimes hated.

The Sunday Times magazine recalls an anecdote that fully proves that Verstappen always says what he thinks. It goes back to 2016, when Verstappen held off a rival with a spirited manoeuvre at 300 kilometres per hour along the Kemmel straight in Spa-Francorchamps. Mercedes advisor Niki Lauda saw it and said of Verstappen: "He needs to see a psychiatrist."

Verstappen and Lauda to the psychiatrist

Verstappen later responded to this, even though he was only 17 years old: "Fine, we might as well go together then." The young talent taking on old master Lauda verbally. Since then, Verstappen became a three-time World Champion and Lauda sadly passed away. As a driver, Verstappen has matured, but his wit is still exactly the same as in the early stages of his career.

"You need to have a bit of sense of humour, right?" Verstappen questioned in the magazine, harking back to the story with Lauda. "The older generation of drivers, they’re quite outspoken and straightforward, but I like that because that’s how I am as well. I speak my mind. When somebody says something to me, I’ll say something back to him.”

Anyway, Verstappen - like Lauda at the time - now has the right to speak. The Dutchman is now among the greatest drivers of all time and he is now looked at with awe by the younger guard.