Max Verstappen has revealed why he is rarely seen on the red carpets of this world – he doesn’t feel like “putting on a fake smile.”
The stars of the premier class have been busy promoting the new Formula 1 film starring Brad Pitt this year. In Monaco, for example, there was an exclusive screening of the film for current Formula 1 drivers.
This was followed by a grand premiere in New York and another in London. Numerous stars from the paddock were present at all three events, while one driver in particular was conspicuous by his absence: world champion Max Verstappen.
The fact that the most successful driver of recent years apparently has no interest in promoting this prestigious project cannot be pleasing to the bosses of the premier class. But Verstappen himself makes no secret of the fact that he doesn’t get much out of such public events.
He told The Sun: “I don’t like standing on the red carpet and putting on a suit. I don’t like interacting with people I don’t really know, putting on a fake smile and making small talk.”
“It’s awful, I just don’t enjoy it,” said the world champion, who emphasized: “Being authentic is not something I have to focus on particularly. It’s just who I am.” That’s why he feels out of place at events like big movie premieres.
“I prefer to spend time with my friends and my little family. I also have many other projects outside of Formula 1,“ said Verstappen, who became a father to a daughter a few weeks ago.
”That’s why I don’t want to do any extra work like red carpets. I’m at a stage in my career where I’ve achieved so much professionally,” he recalls, adding: “I’m just focusing on other things now, like my great passions, to make life more enjoyable and not just be performance-oriented.”
For example, the four-time world champion preferred to spend time with his family during the big New York premiere – and later with a GT3 test in Spa.
