Formula 1 star Max Verstappen is reportedly considering another boycott of the sport, in response to the negative reception he and his Red Bull team received at the F1 75 event in London. This information comes from none other than Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, who expressed disappointment at the crowd’s reaction during the prestigious event held on February 18.
The F1 75 event, hosted at the O2 Arena in London, was planned as a grand celebration of Formula 1’s past, present, and future. It was a platform for all 20 drivers and 10 team principals to reveal their latest car liveries, engage in exclusive interviews, and connect with fans. However, the celebratory atmosphere was tarnished when sections of the audience started booing at both Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner.
Verstappen, Red Bull’s star driver, has been a contentious figure in the Formula 1 world, often finding himself at odds with British media, drivers, and other personalities in the sport, including stewards. His on-track clashes with other drivers, such as Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, and George Russell, have only added fuel to this fire. The heckling at the F1 75 event seems to be the latest fallout from this ongoing feud.
Jos Verstappen, himself a former Formula 1 driver and the father of the reigning four-time world champion, expressed his disapproval of the incident. Describing the event as a “reasonable set-up,” he found the crowd’s response to his son and Horner “shameful.” He was quoted as saying, “I get it because Max is the only one who fires up those Englishmen and says exactly how things are. But I don’t think this is acceptable, it’s really a disappointment what happened there.”
Max Verstappen’s distaste for such public events is no secret. Prior to the F1 75 event, a post on X.com (formerly Twitter) showed the star driver “liking” a post that labeled the event as a “waste of time.” Following the hostile reception, Verstappen’s participation in future promotional events appears uncertain.
Jos Verstappen, empathizing with his son, questioned the relevance of attending such events if they only result in a hostile environment. He feels that the purpose of such events should be to promote the sport and showcase the new color schemes of the cars rather than inciting negativity among fans. He further added, “He has to get ready to go there anyway, but then you get booed like that. I think they need to take a hard look at that, because that’s not part of this sport.”
Max Verstappen’s boycott threat should be a cause for concern for Formula 1. As one of the sport’s most successful and well-known drivers, his absence from promotional events could have serious implications for the sport’s global image and popularity. The Formula 1 community will undoubtedly be waiting with bated breath for any further developments on this issue.
