Max Verstappen has made motorsporting history, whether people like it or not. With the most consecutive days leading the drivers' championship, most wins in a season and being the first driver in Formula One history to win from ten different grid positions, the Dutch national is becoming a legend in motorsport racing.
So why do people hate him?
Upon winning his fourth consecutive World Drives’ Championship this November, disappointment and dissatisfaction with the star has been shown on social media, which has been a constant for Verstappen before his first Championship win. Verstappen's 'vibe' is often the sticking point for criticism, but there are numerous claims as to why Verstappen is disliked in the world of F1.
Recently, British Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle claimed that Verstappen is ‘tainting’ his legacy with ‘dangerous driving’ and his unsportsmanlike behaviour. Formula One is a very dangerous sport and it seems as if Verstappen’s ‘dangerous’ driving is to blame for a lot of his hate. We know that Max Verstappen can drive well and that he can drive safely. He has proven this throughout his career. But many of Verstappen’s crashes seem to be avoidable if it wasn’t for his risky and selfish driving. Most recently, Verstappen was handed two ten-second race penalties when he drove challenger Lando Norris off the track in the Mexico City Grand Prix. This only made the hate against him grow.
It all seemed to have blown up around the time of the infamous 2021 crash at Monza between title challengers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Likewise, in the penultimate round in Jeddah, Hamilton believed Verstappen had deliberately brake-tested him and caused the pair to clash. It is a prime example of why people believe that Verstappen has crossed the line between being aggressive and being reckless.
However, you don’t become the best in your sport by being nice. The sport requires brave people to do incredible things and take risks. Verstappen is an example of a strong, resilient driver who will do whatever it takes to be the best. He is not the only driver to have become frustrated and subsequently lash out on track.
Similar attributes can be seen through seven time World Champion, Michael Schumacher, who was known to have a ‘win at all costs’ mentality. Many loved it. But many loathed it. Likewise, a young Sebastian Vettel was treated much like Max Verstappen when he came onto the scene. They have a lot in common, both young drivers, Red Bull stars, not British. So far, both have won four Drivers’ Championships (but Max will likely collate many more). Vettel went on to become one of the most loved drivers in recent years, paired with his determination to speak out against issues bigger than race car driving. Even Lewis Hamilton, beloved by the British press, is no stranger to hate online.
All in all, no driver has gone without criticism from the press or viewers. But comments about Verstappen and his character seem to have more anger and hatred behind them.
Many believe that this is because of his ‘attitude problem’ and the way he presents himself through the press and on the team radio. This is especially prevalent through the issue between him and the British press.
Following his masterclass in Interlagos in early November 2024, where he clinched victory after starting in 17th position, Max Verstappen made a point remark during the post-race press conference: ‘I don’t see any British Press. Do they have to run to the airport, or they don’t know where the press conference is?”’ This was interpreted as a dig at the British media, reflecting his long-standing contention of a bias against him.
In response, British pundit David Croft addressed the remark on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that it is not unique to Max that members of the media skip post-race conferences. There is a quick press turnaround and a stressful time for members of the press.
It is clear that Verstappen has a difficult relationship with the British press and even wider members of the Formula One world when he remarked that he ‘has the wrong passport’ for the paddock. While some argue that Verstappen’s personality and often blunt communication style contribute to his interesting public image, it is worth considering whether the media bias he perceives might also play a role in shaping how he is portrayed.
However, aren’t all media outlets inherently biased toward drivers from their own countries? The Spanish press for Fernando Alonso, German press for Vettel and the Dutch press for Verstappen. This is common across the world of sport and is not just unique to Formula One.
Is it because he is winning? For the past three years, it has seemed inevitable that he would win the Drivers Championship, it was practically written in the stars before each season even began. The only driver to come close this season is British driver Lando Norris, who himself has faced a noticeable increase in online criticism for his personality and attitude.
A significant portion of the dissatisfaction with Verstappen stems from what some perceive as his ‘boasting’ after victories, a demeanor that divides opinions. His dominance, coupled with his confident post-race remarks, has likely amplified the polarization among fans and media alike.
When Lewis Hamilton dominated Formula 1, critics often attributed his success to the superiority of the Mercedes car, citing the fact that his teammates, such as Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas, frequently performed at a similar level. In contrast, Verstappen’s dominance with Red Bull has highlighted a clear performance gap. At times, it feels as though they are driving two entirely different cars, fueling speculation that Red Bull’s development is heavily tailored to Verstappen’s driving style. Many fans and critics of Formula 1 argue that Red Bull Racing operates under a ‘put Max above all’ strategy, prioritising Max Verstappen’s performance and success above that of his teammates.
This leads us to perhaps the most important reason why Verstappen is disliked, which is the team and people around him. The history behind many of the people in Red Bull is far too long to go into detail in this article, but years of scandal and behavioural issues connected with the team has made Verstappen unpopular by association.
Verstappen’s promotion to Formula One was not popular at the time. Having already broken a record by his first race (being the youngest Formula One driver at 17 years and 166 days old) he was met by heavy criticism. This was partly because he was such a young and inexperienced driver. However, his talent quickly silenced the doubts while driving for Torro Rosso.
But the main controversy was involving Daniil Kvyat, who Verstappen replaced during a mid-season driver swap in 2016 which saw Max move to Red Bull. Firstly, the decision to replace Kvyat was harsh and effectively ended his chances of competing at the top level of the sport with him eventually losing his F1 seat in 2017. Secondly, and perhaps a more superficial argument, Verstappen’s relationship with Kelly Piquet, daughter of three-time F1 World Champion Nelson Piquet, has added another dimension to the scandal at Red Bull. The two began dating in late 2020, and became a hot topic in the world of F1 as before dating Verstappen, Kelly was in a long-term relationship with Daniel Kyvat, with whom she shares a daughter. The timeline of their relationship led to some scrutiny and gossip, as Kelly and Kvyat split not long before she began dating Verstappen. While no evidence suggests an overlap, the situation sparked controversy, especially considering the dramatic history between Verstappen and Kvyat over the 2016 Red Bull driver swap.
Relationships are the private business of the drivers and should not be a point of speculation for the media. But it seems as if Kelly’s presence in Verstappen’s life has also drawn attention to the star because of her connections in the sport. As a member of the Piquet family, her connection to F1 royalty has added to the narrative around Verstappen, with some fans seeing the pairing as a natural fit while others view it as a point of contention due to her family’s reputation in the sport.
In an interview in 2021, Nelson Piquet used a racial slur when commenting on Lewis Hamilton’s British Grand Prix clash with Verstappen. In a podcast clip that surfaced after the original incident, Piquet once again used racist and then homophobic language when describing how Hamilton missed out on the 2016 championship to Nico Rosberg. In 2022, Verstappen condemned what he called ‘very offensive’ comments but added Nelson Piquet is ‘definitely not a racist’ and that he should not be banned from the paddock. In 2023 Piquet was demanded to pay £780,000 in damages caused by the racist and homophobic comments, and was seemingly banned from the F1 paddock.
Furthermore, scandal surrounding Red Bull Racing’s team principal Christian Horner at the start of 2024 involves allegations of ‘inappropriate behavior’ made by a female colleague. Horner strongly denied the allegations, stating that it was a ‘distraction’ for his team. Red Bull Racing claimed they took the situation seriously and initiated an independent investigation led by an external barrister. The team continued business as usual and Horner’s relationship with Verstappen was apparently unaffected by the controversy.
Max Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen, has had a contentious relationship with his son's public image. In 1998, Jos and his father were involved in a violent altercation at a karting track, resulting in a man suffering a fractured skull. As a consequence, Jos was sentenced to five years in prison. In 2008, Jos was fined and handed a three-month suspended sentence for threatening his then-wife, Sophie Kumpen, with whom he had separated.
More shockingly, in 2012, Jos drove his car into his ex-girlfriend, Kelly van der Waal, following a heated argument. He fled the scene, and while the charges were eventually dropped, Jos served two weeks in jail. The couple later reconciled and married in 2014.
There were rumors in early 2024 that Jos was behind the leaked text messages involving Christian Horner, but Jos publicly denied these allegations. He suggested that Red Bull's team could "explode" if Horner remained in his role and accused him of ‘playing the victim.’
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s head of driver development, has also been accused of leaking messages and was under investigation. Additionally, Marko made inappropriate comments during an interview with the Servus TV channel regarding Max Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Pérez: 'We know he has problems in qualifying, and his form fluctuates. He is South American, and he is simply not as mentally focused as Max (Verstappen) or Sebastian (Vettel).'
It is clear that Max Verstappen doesn’t seem to have favourable characters around him and that makes him unpopular by association.
In conclusion, Max Verstappen’s dominance in Formula 1 has inevitably led to a divided opinion among fans and pundits. While his talent and achievements are undeniable, his aggressive driving style, difficult relationships with the media and key figures in the sport have contributed to a significant amount of negativity surrounding him. His association with controversial figures and Red Bull’s controversial management practices have only added fuel to the fire. It is clear that Verstappen’s rise to the top has not come without its fair share of controversy, but as with many great drivers, his legacy will be defined not only by his on-track success but also by the way he navigates the world of Formula 1. Whether he is loved or hated, Verstappen’s impact on the sport is undeniable.
