This is how much weight Verstappen lost: 'Fun to hurt myself a bit'

Max Verstappen has become in good shape in record time after the Formula 1 winter break. The Dutchman lost as much as 10 kilos in six weeks, to be ready for the new F1 season.

The Dutchman's target weight during the F1 season is 74 kilos. In winter, Verstappen usually abandons his sports diet and gains around five kilos. Last winter, that weight rose to ten kilos, so the Red Bull Racing driver had to train a little harder. That was no problem.

Verstappen abandons training for a month

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf spoke to the Dutchman and quotes him: "The whole year I feel like I'm below my normal weight. I then give myself a month to eat and drink what I want and enjoy myself a bit." Unlike other drivers who prefer to keep their weight constant all year, it feels good for Verstappen to not think about training for a month and then be fit again in a short time. "I like to hurt myself a bit then," he said.

For Verstappen, it is now a familiar routine. The 25-year-old two-time F1 champion is now starting his ninth F1 season. Meanwhile, the team has also been on a diet. The RB19 has become a lot lighter over the winter. Verstappen smiles: "That car was even more overweight than the kilos I gained in December. So that's quite a lot." Verstappen had a flying start in 2023. On test day 1 in Bahrain, the RB19 immediately had a good balance, allowing the team to start the test programme straight away.