What is 'simply lovely' - a term not only said by Verstappen

The term 'simply lovely' was coined in Formula 1's history by Max Verstappen. The Dutchman often reacts to a pole position or a Grand Prix victory when talking to Gianpiero Lambiase over the team radio.

So much so that the four-time world champion also has the phrase on merchandise.

Last year, for the first time since the circuit's return in 2021, it was not Verstappen who won in his home country, but Lando Norris.

The McLaren driver crossed the finish line first comfortably, with a gap just under 23 seconds.

Over the team radio, Norris used his at-the-time championship rival's words, 'simply lovely' over the team radio reacting to his win.

At the time, the McLaren driver told Sky Sports: "It just popped into my head, so I thought I’d say it. It’s a fun thing, I can’t think of those things – I’m not trying to have a dig or anything, like a lot of people want to come up with and headline with and all of that nonsense."

In the end, Verstappen claimed his fourth title in 2024, while McLaren ended up winning the constructors' championship against Ferrari.

In the United Arab Emirates, Zak Brown also used the Dutchman's phrase when celebrating their title, saying it to Lando Norris over the team radio.