Being a Formula 1 driver comes with a lot of responsibility, as millions of fans look to their favourite drivers as role models and positive influences.
This means that drivers often have to use their massive followings on social media to promote positive causes, along with updating their fans with what they are up to on and off the racetrack.
While drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly seem to thrive in the limelight, always posting ‘dumps’ of race weekends and sharing what they are up to during breaks, others appear to be out of their comfort zone on social media.
One of these drivers is two-time world champion Max Verstappen, who despite sharing a photo with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet of them seeing in the new year, admits that he is trying to take a step back from social media.
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“I just don’t have that need to show my private life to the outside world,” the Dutchman told Limburger.
“Kelly is also doing it much less than she used to. If I’m ever done with Formula 1, I don’t see myself posting very much after that. I just don’t like it.
“Some people don’t do anything else all day, I’m busy with other things. For example, I spend a lot of time on my phone, but that is more to arrange things around my sim team.
“That also takes a lot of time, but because it’s my passion, I think that’s super fun to work with.”
The Dutchman previously suggested that the main difference between himself and Lewis Hamilton is how much he would rather go under the radar than his limelight-loving rival.
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Verstappen’s claims that he will step away from social media when he leaves Formula 1 could come true as early as 2028, as the 25-year-old has hinted that he may walk away from the sport upon the expiration of his current contract.
Lewis Hamilton has recently labelled social media as a ‘toxic place’ while his teammate George Russell has claimed that the impact of social media on his mental health was one of the difficult parts of his first season with Mercedes.
Max Verstappen will have one post that he would like to share with his fans in 2023, as he hopes to win the drivers’ championship for the third consecutive season.