For just over a week now, Max Verstappen has been allowed to call himself a triple world champion. The Dutchman probably did not have much time to celebrate this happy event. Of course, there are already the preparations for the upcoming US Grand Prix as well as the many media appearances. For instance, Verstappen joined Formel1.de for a video interview. Among the topics discussed during that interview was his 'second family', which has now had to make do without the 'pater familias' for a year.

Dietrich Mateschitz, the great man behind Red Bull and Red Bull Racing, died on 22 October 2022. The Austrian still watched Verstappen celebrate his first major successes and world title, but Mateschitz did not live to see his team's current dominance. When asked about that, Verstappen responded with a nod: "Of course we do this for him too. Too bad he can't see the dominance. It's still his team. I always find it emotional to talk about it. "

Verstappen and Red Bull have a lot of fun

It was almost immediately after his first world title that Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of 2028. When the commitment expires, he will soon have completed almost 13 seasons with the Austrian team. The Dutchman certainly does not regret the long collaboration "We have a lot of fun in the team. Maybe that is even more important than the performances. We are on the road together a lot. There are so many super people in this team. It really is a second family," Verstappen told the German.

Family or not; Verstappen's performance with Red Bull has been more than excellent anyway. Next weekend in Austin, the Dutchman can take his 50th win (with Red Bull) in Formula 1. Add to that his second and third places, plus the poles Verstappen captured, so that's a lot of trophies. The driver himself has a number of them in his home in Monaco, and father Jos and mother Sophie also have their son's trophies on the mantelpiece.

Perez lags behind Verstappen in terms of performance

Team-mate Sergio Perez 's trophy cabinet is a lot less full. While Verstappen, with probably the best car in the field, has to put up a new display case almost every month, the Mexican struggles to pick up trophies. As did previous teammates Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon pale beside Verstappen.

When the Dutchman is asked if he ever feels sorry for how his teammates are crushed, Verstappen says: "At the end of the day, it's a tough sport. We are teammates and work well together; with Pierre, Alex and Checo. Of course it's hard to say why certain things go the way they do. Well..."