Max Verstappen believes his nationality does not benefit him in certain situations in a sport heavily influenced by British culture. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda in Abu Dhabi, the Dutchman discussed his unique challenges in Formula 1, a sport with a rich British background. The British press has frequently criticised the incumbent champion, especially for situations involving British drivers. The strong presence of British personnel in the sport has led to concerns about preferential treatment.
The inequities among non-British and non-European athletes. Drivers have expressed concern that stewards may have a British bias in their choices, exacerbating feelings of disadvantage. During the Austin Grand Prix, Verstappen received a five-second penalty for shoving Lando Norris off track. Following the incident, the Dutchman expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of impartiality by joking on a Dutch TV program about having the “wrong passport.”
Max Verstappen admitted to feeling handicapped in certain scenarios while believing he had the “right passport” to compete in Formula One. He accused the British media of unfairly portraying him, notably during incidents with British drivers. He saw a significant difference in how other international media and non-British drivers viewed him. This gap highlights the problems of playing in a sport with a strong British identity.
F1’s British Media Monopoly
This sentiment is not exclusive to Verstappen. Many drivers, including Fernando Alonso, have expressed concerns about perceived favouritism based on country. These allegations have sparked questions about fairness and impartiality in Formula 1, a sport where nationality may be a source of contention. Verstappen’s frustrations highlight the challenges faced by non-European drivers in motorsport. Despite criticism, Verstappen maintains his confidence and candour, demonstrating his ambition to succeed in F1’s Britain-centric ecology.
He said, It’s not about recognition, it’s about certain things that happen on track that sometimes you are unfairly portrayed as well. And then of course, most of the time was when I was fighting against a British driver. You know when it’s another driver from another country it’s less of a problem because it’s less to write about.
