Interview Key Points

Podcast Introduction

The podcast "Talking Bull" is powered by ArvaTrade and is recorded at the Oracle Red Bull Racing campus. The hosts are Nicola Hume and Tomo McCluskey.

• The hosts mention a "fluke" coordinated outfit choice.
• They discuss a "Trader match" with Max Verstappen.

Driver's Dinner Etiquette

This segment humorously discusses how drivers decide who pays for their annual dinner in Abu Dhabi.

• Valtteri Bottas paid last year, leading to jokes that it was Max Verstappen's turn this year.
• Pierre Gasly unexpectedly paid the bill this year, catching others off guard.
• Max jokingly implies he might need to pre-emptively claim the bill next time to ensure he finally gets to pay.
• The idea of drivers throwing bank cards in the middle for the waiter to pick is recalled from earlier years, but is seen as a "poor look" now.
• It's generally accepted that more experienced drivers initiate payment, and rookies are not expected to pay.

2025 Season Review

Max Verstappen reflects on the 2025 Formula 1 season, highlighting the team's significant turnaround.

• The first half of the season was not great, with ups and downs.
• The second half was enjoyable, with consistent podiums and race wins.
• The team's turnaround was personally unexpected by Max and many others.
• He expresses happiness with the team's achievements in the latter half of the season.

Championship Fight and Perspective

This section delves into the closely contested championship battle and Max's philosophical approach to racing and life.

• Max's radio message at the end of Abu Dhabi, asking not to be disappointed, is highlighted.
• The incredible comeback from 104 points behind to lose the championship by just two points is discussed.
• Max wasn't overly disappointed crossing the finish line, as he hadn't expected to be in the championship fight at all during the middle of the season.
• He believes losing by one, 20, or 50 points doesn't matter if you don't win, and he doesn't dwell on such outcomes.
• The "underdog" role in the second half of the season allowed for a more relaxed approach with "nothing to lose."
• He contrasts this with constantly fighting for the championship throughout the year and then narrowly losing.
• Max emphasizes that his main goal is to win, but having fun is also crucial.
• He adopts a relaxed approach to life in general, believing people take things too seriously.
• He suggests that stress is detrimental and can shorten one's life.
• He jokes about living to 250 years old.

Fan Perception and Authenticity

The discussion shifts to how Max's perspective and performances have gained him more fans and a new "underdog" status.

• This season has been seen as his strongest yet due to the comeback.
• He acknowledges that the underdog role naturally attracts more support.
• Max believes fans are finally starting to see "who I really am."
• He mentions his mom also saying this for a long time.
• The hosts and guests agree that Max's candor and openness, especially after winning his first title, make his "it's all a bonus now" sentiment believable.
• His authenticity is contrasted with the "media-trained empire" of F1.
• Max states he doesn't try to be a "fake person" and values having people around him who keep him grounded.

Post-Season Celebrations and Personal Growth

Max talks about his celebrations after the Abu Dhabi race and how he has changed over his 11 seasons in F1.

• Celebrations involved a nice dinner with friends and family, not the partying of previous years.
• He acknowledges gaining experience, wisdom, and improving his technical understanding of the car and people skills over the years.
• He has become better at building relationships.

Key Races and Moments

Max identifies a pivotal race and discusses a memorable podium celebration.

• Monza was a crucial race where things "clicked" for the team, leading to a consistent run of podiums.
• He vividly recalls celebrating with rookie teammate Isaac Hadjar on the podium, emphasizing the importance of celebrating such moments.

Sim Racing and Future Plans

The conversation moves to Max's involvement in sim racing and his future ambitions.

• Sim racing is becoming increasingly serious, with drivers like Isaac Hadjar coming through this pathway.
• Max's team entered the Gold Cup in sim racing this year and won, with plans to compete in the pro championship next year.
• He emphasizes the importance of comparing lap times with professional sim racers.
• He aims to grow his involvement in GT3 and sim racing "step by step."
• When asked how he finds the time, he states that passion makes it easier to dedicate time and that he dreams about optimizing GT cars.
• He remains very active in sim racing communities, even waking up at 3 am to test ideas.

Advice to Young Max and Learning from Mistakes

Max reflects on what advice he would give his younger self and the importance of learning from adversity.

• He would not give his younger self any advice, preferring him to make mistakes and learn from tough times, as knowing everything in advance would be boring and lead to laziness.
• He identifies 2018 as the season where he learned the most, particularly the early part with his own mistakes and the subsequent negative spiral.
• A turnaround in Montreal that year marked a significant shift.
• He agrees with the sentiment that adversity is crucial for growth, citing Isaac Hadjar's perspective.

Media and Fan Interaction

Max offers his thoughts on how the media and fans could improve their understanding of F1.

• He believes the media should "stop asking so many stupid questions" to avoid receiving "stupid answers."
• He acknowledges listener questions are generally good.

Dream Cars and Racing Eras

Max discusses his fascination with past F1 cars and what he misses about the current era.

• He would love to drive an early 2000s F1 car, citing the V10 engine noise and their smaller, lighter, and more "rough" nature.
• He regrets not having had the chance to drive one, joking he might "send it" and damage it.
• He misses the early 2000s cars for their sound and perceived rawness.
• He least likes the stiffness of current ground-effect cars due to the low ride height and bumpy tracks, which can cause aggressive bottoming out and high vertical loads (up to 9G), negatively impacting his spine and neck.

Retirement Goals and Reliving Races

Max outlines his goals before retiring from F1 and which race he would like to experience again.

• His primary goal is to remain competitive and have fun with his colleagues.
• He doesn't have specific quantifiable goals beyond that.
• He would like to relive any race from the 2023 season, particularly Monza, with the aim of winning all races and achieving an "invincible" season.

Future with Ford and Le Mans

The discussion touches upon potential future involvement with Ford and racing at Le Mans.

• Max hasn't spoken about developing Ford's 2027 Le Mans hypercar entry.
• He expresses a desire to compete in endurance racing with teammates, citing the different atmosphere and fewer races compared to F1.
• He heard the new Ford engine on a dyno and described it as sounding "crisp" and like an engine.

Holiday Plans and Preparations

Max shares his plans for the off-season break.

• Besides spending time with family and celebrating his first Christmas with his daughter Lily, he's looking forward to a holiday with friends.
• He also wants to ensure his GT3 and sim racing programs for the next year are well-prepared.

Message to Fans

Max concludes with a message of gratitude to the Red Bull Racing fans.

• He thanks fans for sticking with the team through a tough season, especially at the beginning.
• He expresses pride in how the team and fans have remained united.
• He is grateful for the beautiful moments celebrated together.