Verstappen corrects British interviewer after citing facts incorrectly

15:18, 26 Jun

Updated: 18:02, 26 Jun

byTim Kraaij

Max Verstappen may not have taken to the Red Bull Ring at the Austrian Grand Prix yet, but the Red Bull driver is already looking sharp ahead of his constructors' home race.

The Dutchman always has his own statistics in mind, and this was once again evident when Tom Clarkson, the interviewer at the press conference, had not prepared well enough.

‘’You have an incredible record here at the Red Bull Ring. Four wins so far. How confident are you of a fit this weekend?’’, Clarkson began the press conference in Spielberg. Although Clarkson was correct that Max had won the Austrian Grand Prix four times, Clarkson had overlooked something.

‘’Is it four? Five," Verstappen looked at him with a smile as he corrected the Brit. Clarkson tried again with the remark: ‘’You’re going for your fifth." But Verstappen was not to be swayed: ‘’It's five.’’

Max Verstappen celebrating one of his five victories around the Red Bull Ring, with his last win coming in 2023.

Verstappen corrects interviewer

Verstappen was right with his stats, with the four-time world champion winning the Austrian Grand Prix four times, while also winning a fifth race at the Red Bull Ring.

In 2020 and 2021, the circuit was on the Formula 1 calendar twice, and in 2021, Verstappen took advantage of this by also winning the Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.

As a result, Verstappen has five wins to his name at this circuit, and he will be hoping for another one to close the gap to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the top of the drivers' standings. But how confident is the 27-year-old for this weekend?

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"There are no guarantees. I mean, we'll always, of course, try to do our best. In the past, yes, we've had a lot of great races here. I think back then, they were also unexpected wins.

"We come into this weekend again not as favourites, for sure. But I know that myself and the team will always try to optimise everything that we can. It looks like quite a warm weekend as well. So it's going to be tough to make the tyres last anyway. But I'm excited. I'm here to do the best I can, and of course, I hope to be on the podium."