In a candid and unfiltered exchange, Max Verstappen, the two-time world champion, responded to accusations of being a “winning machine who doesn’t give a sh**.”
The revealing moment occurred during Formula 1’s popular ‘Grill the Grid’ challenge, where drivers attempted to identify the subjects of various quotes.
When presented with the quote, “None of his teammates have been able to measure up to him. ____ is a beast on the track, a winning machine who doesn’t give a sh** about what we have to say or what anyone else has to say,” the majority of drivers correctly surmised that it referred to Verstappen himself.
Verstappen not only accurately identified that the quote pertained to him but also provided an unvarnished response. “Can be me. Yeah, because I do not give a sh**,” Verstappen candidly stated.
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The quote’s origins can be traced back to former Red Bull driver David Coulthard, who lauded Verstappen’s prowess after he secured his second world championship.
“Max is already one of the greats. You would also have to be a f***ing idiot to claim that he only achieved this because he was in a good car,” Coulthard stated in an interview with Formula1.nl.
“After all, none of his teammates have been able to measure up to him.
“Max is a beast on the track, a winning machine who doesn’t give a sh** about what we have to say or what anyone else has to say.
“He’s unbelievable.”
Verstappen’s unapologetic demeanour has occasionally led to sharp outbursts, a trait that has persisted into the 2023 season.
During the Belgium Grand Prix weekend, after narrowly securing a place in Q3, he directed an expletive-laden comment at his race engineer, expressing his frustration with the execution.
Despite the momentary flare-up, Verstappen went on to clinch pole position for the race.
Reflecting on his reaction, Verstappen later apologised, acknowledging, “That was quite a gap. Sorry to GP for being so on a rant.”
His race engineer responded with humour, stating, “slowly getting used to it, Max.”
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During the challenge, Verstappen also divulged that he doesn’t extensively follow F1-related content.
This admission hints at his focus on his on-track performance rather than external comments about his success or challenges.
Verstappen’s unfiltered and often intense approach to racing has solidified his reputation in the sport.