Max Verstappen is widely known for his love of Formula 1 and racing in general. He has become notorious for his dislike of extra-curricular activities that the sport puts on.

In recent years, Verstappen has only really seemed interested in the racing side of F1. His passion for the sport and aggressiveness on track have guided him to four world championships with Red Bull.

The entertainment side of the sport is not something that has piqued the Dutchman’s interest. Verstappen criticised the F1 75 launch event at the O2 Arena after the crowd booed him and team boss Christian Horner; there were rumours that he would not attend the event at all.

The 27-year-old was not present at the premiere of the ‘F1’ movie at Leicester Square on Monday night. That was because Verstappen was conducting another GT3 test at Spa, highlighting his love for racing even when he could be taking a break.

Press conferences are another tedious thing for the Red Bull driver, with Verstappen refusing to answer questions in the wake of the FIA’s stricter sanctions on swearing. Generally, the Dutchman does not seem interested in answering questions about recent events, particularly his car and rivalries on track.

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

Max Verstappen ‘only’ likes answering questions in the paddock about the history of F1

Journalist Frank Woestenburg says Verstappen ‘doesn’t really feel like’ answering questions about current affairs in F1. The Dutchman has been consistently quizzed on the lack of performance on the RB21 and his rivalry with George Russell after the two came to blows in Barcelona.

But Woestenburg shared via the Paddock Praat podcast that the four-time champion ‘only’ likes answering questions about the sport’s history. Being a ‘real enthusiast’ about F1, he says Verstappen shares ‘nice stories’ about his memories of the past.

“I also had an interview with Max in Montreal. And in itself it was fun, because when you have an interview with Max and especially now, then there are some questions that are always asked,” said Woestenburg.

“You also see that at those press conferences. Then it’s about the car that disappoints, the rivalry with Piastri, with Russell, the things that have happened in recent weeks. And he doesn’t really feel like doing that.

“Only if you talk to him about the history of Formula 1 and the sport, yes, he likes that, because he is a real enthusiast.

“And then he also talks about the videos he watches on YouTube and his memories of his toddler years in the paddock with his father as his guide. So, those are just nice stories.”

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Can Max Verstappen win a fifth title with Red Bull in 2025?

As F1 approaches the summer break, Verstappen is still in the title picture with two wins from the opening 10 races. But the McLarens have established an advantage over the field as he sits 43 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.

The RB21 has proved to be a difficult car to drive in 2025, even for Verstappen. But the Dutchman has been able to extract the maximum from the machine and put it in positions it arguably should not be in, keeping his title hopes alive.

Red Bull have a medium tyre advantage over McLaren as Pirelli move towards introducing softer compounds. It is not a ‘game-changing’ improvement, but it shows that Verstappen can take the fight to his rivals in 2025.

Jolyon Palmer backs Verstappen to win in Austria this weekend, with the track being suited to him and Red Bull. Victory here will certainly put the pressure on his rivals, but he will have to be careful with the prospect of a race ban still hanging over him.