Max Verstappen, the dominant force in Formula 1, has confirmed his intention to have the iconic Red Bull Ring renamed in his honour after securing his fifth victory at the venue.
Following a light-hearted remark in 2021 about renaming the circuit if he achieved five wins, Verstappen now plans to begin the process by contacting Red Bull bosses.
The circuit, formerly known as the Osterreichring and then the A1-Ring, underwent extensive refurbishment funded by mobile phone provider A1 between 1997 and 2003.
In 2004, Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz acquired the track, and after significant renovations, it was reintroduced as the Red Bull Ring in 2011.
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Verstappen’s popularity among local Austrian fans has soared, with Dutch supporters traveling en masse to Spielberg to witness their hero race.
As Red Bull’s lead driver, Verstappen has become the crowd favorite, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the massive grandstands during every Grand Prix.
Having secured a dominant win in the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen fulfilled his vow of achieving five victories at the Red Bull Ring.
After the race, a determined reporter reminded him of his previous comment about renaming the circuit, to which Verstappen humorously responded, “Yeah, I have to talk to the bosses now. So let’s see! I’ll call them tomorrow, one by one.”
However, the process might face a challenge, as Dietrich Mateschitz, the Red Bull founder and owner, passed away in late 2022.
Nevertheless, Verstappen’s determination to have the circuit renamed remains.
Reflecting on his exceptional performance during the race weekend, Verstappen expressed his delight with the smooth execution of the Sprint format and overall team performance.
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With a strategically sound race plan and excellent pit stops, Verstappen praised the team’s efforts and the quick car that made everything possible.
In response to the noticeable gap between him and his rivals compared to the previous race in Montreal, Verstappen light-heartedly remarked that he enjoyed reading articles about it.
He acknowledged that certain weekends are more favourable for his team, contributing to the larger margin of victory at the Red Bull Ring.