Verstappen recently visited Mateschitz: 'Will never forget that'

Very few people apoke bout the qualifying session in which Max Verstappen drove the third fastest time. At Red Bull Racing, all attention was on the death of Dieter Mateschitz. Verstappen also spoke at length after qualifying about the loss of the man who let him make his debut in Formula 1 at the age of 17.

For days, Red Bull's budget cap breach dominated the news. But on Saturday night, this topic was no issue anymore. Verstappen said he has no longer thought about it at all and considered Mateschitz's death much more important. Full of admiration, the Dutchman spoke of the man who 'made everything possible' for him.

Making him proud

Mateschitz had been seriously ill for some time. During the weekend that Red Bull can win the constructors' title, the Austrian died. ''We are going to try to make him proud. I got into the car before qualifying with a shitty feeling. In the end, you have to keep going and I'm also 100 per cent sure that's what he would have wanted. Dietrich always spoke with such passion about Formula 1, but also about other sports. Just look at what he did in football. He made the whole Red Bull brand big. You have to have a lot of respect for that," Verstappen spoke in de Telegraaf.

Verstappen had a good relationship with Mateschitz, who ultimately made all the decisions in the team. But he always did so in the background. Verstappen states that Mateschitz was always there for him. Not so long ago, the Dutchman paid him a visit. "There I had a very nice day. We were able to talk about everything. Those are moments I will never forget."