F1 Presenter Exposes Max Verstappen’s Aggressive Media Strategy

F1 presenter Ted Kravtiz revealed Max Verstappen's mindset behind answering media questions.

F1 Presenter Exposes Max Verstappen’s Aggressive Media Strategy

Max Verstappen (image via XPB images)

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Max Verstappen is an old school racer. The Dutch driver is never afraid of speaking his mind in the F1 paddock. This has got the four-time world champion into trouble with the FIA in the past, but yet the Red Bull star has not really changed his approach. Now, F1 presenter Ted Kravtiz has revealed how Verstappen tackles the challenge of speaking to the media.

Talking to the media is inevitable in Formula 1. Drivers must be part of official F1 press conferences over the course of a season. Moreover, reporters are always there to interview drivers be it inside the paddock, or in the media pen after the race. Max Verstappen is likely the least interested driver when it comes to such conversations. Verstappen was even forced to do community service for swearing during a press conference last year.

Ted Kravtiz claimed that Max Verstappen has now understood the importance of doing media interviews. Such conversations may not do anything for the Dutchman in terms of performance. However, the media is critical in helping build the image of the reigning world champion. Moreover, Kravitz reckoned that Verstappen could get some information he wasn’t aware of through his relations with media personnel.

He realized, ‘look, doing media interviews is not going to make me quicker, it’s not going to make my car quicker, but it might make me, help my image or get me some information on someone else that I didn’t know about.’

Ted Kravitz told Virgin Radio

The F1 presenter claimed that Max Verstappen demands perfection from reporters. The reigning world champion does not entertain tough questions, and gives just a blunt one word response in such regards. Thus, Kravitz and his colleagues must get good questions to extract a better response from the 27-year-old.

So, he demanded excellence from us as well, And then he would give a good answer. If you asked a tough question, he would like to say yes or no. And then kind of look at you and you’re like, ‘oh.’

Ted Kravitz added

Max Verstappen takes lessons from Michael Schumacher’s book

Max Verstappen is arguably the only driver of the current generation to have such an approach to media. However, older F1 fans would recall that one driver had a similar outlook towards interviews and press conferences in the past, and that was Michael Schumacher.

Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher (via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher (via IMAGO)

Ted Kravtiz revealed that Max Verstappen was quite similar to Michael Schumacher in this regard. The Dutch driver had the chance of meeting the F1 legend when his father Jos Verstappen was Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton. Kravitz insisted that the Red Bull star is just as straightforward as Schumacher, particularly when a reporter asks a foolish question.

Well, you see, that’s the great thing about Max as well. Max is so much like Schumacher. It’s uncanny sometimes. Max was a kid, because Joss Verstappen was Mike Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton. So Max, as a kid, met Schumacher. But he has the relentlessness of Schumacher, the way he doesn’t suffer fools. And sometimes, if you ask a foolish question, Max will put you away, just the way Schumacher used to. So, you know, I’ve got to be on my guard with that.

Ted Kravitz added

Certainly, Max Verstappen’s old school personality is loved by millions of fans. At a time when drivers are trying to be more PR friendly, the reigning world champion simply doesn’t care. Though Verstappen is being more open to the media now, he still is not fond of giving interviews or being at press conferences.

Read More: Toto Wolff Reveals Mindset Behind Trying to Lure Max Verstappen to Mercedes