Tim Kraaij is Editor-in-Chief of GPblog.com and a Formula 1 analyst. With permanent FIA accreditation and direct access to the paddock, he delivers in-depth, data-driven analysis and insight into key developments within the sport.
Max Verstappen was loudly serenaded on the podium in Malaysia, although that stood out mostly because of yet another issue during this race weekend. This time, the national anthem didn’t start on cue.
Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli, and Lewis Hamilton had already taken their Pirelli caps off in anticipation of the anthem, but it never came. The Dutchman looked at Hamilton in disbelief, while they simply took the opportunity to continue their conversation from the green room.
A new anthem for Verstappen
While waiting for the Dutch national anthem, the crowd decided to launch into Verstappen’s “real” anthem. From the grandstands and the grid came the booming chant: “Tu Tu Tu Tu Du, Max Verstappen!”
Verstappen, Antonelli, and Hamilton visibly enjoyed the moment. The F1 TV commentators even suggested this might suit the occasion better than the Wilhelmus.
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In the end, the national anthems of the Netherlands and Austria were played after all. It’s unclear what went wrong. After his pole position, it could hardly be a major surprise that Verstappen would win. In fact, the last anthem played for F1 in Malaysia was the exact same combination as the ones that were played now.
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