F1 Legends

Verstappen ‘psychiatrist’ jibe proves F1 champion is a throwback

Sam Cook Friday 26 January 2024 19:57

Verstappen ‘psychiatrist’ jibe proves F1 champion is a throwback

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen has said that he likes how the old generation of Formula 1 drivers are 'outspoken and straightforward', responding to an old criticism laid at his door by the late Niki Lauda.

Lauda, who was a three-time champion in the sport himself, once told Verstappen that he needed 'to see a psychiatrist', after a move on Kimi Raikkonen at the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman held off Raikkonen on the 300kmph Kemmel Straight at the iconic circuit, driving in just his seventh race for the Red Bull team at the age of 18.

Verstappen has since gone on to become one of the most successful F1 drivers of his generation, breaking multiple records while dominating the sport for the last two seasons.

Lauda sadly passed away in 2019 having spent seven years as a non-executive chairman at Red Bull's rivals Mercedes.

Max Verstappen is a three-time Formula 1 world champion

Max Verstappen has broken multiple records in F1, including the number of consecutive race wins (10)

Niki Lauda was a stalwart on the F1 paddock

Verstappen a throwback champion

Now, in an interview with the Sunday Times magazine, Verstappen has looked back on those comments from Austrian legend Lauda, and has revealed how much he appreciates the older drivers who have gone before him.

The 26-year-old is very much an old-fashioned type of driver, and has recently been praised for being a pure racer.

"You need to have a bit of sense of humour, right?" Verstappen said, thinking back to Lauda's comments.

"The older generation of drivers, they’re quite outspoken and straightforward, but I like that because that’s how I am as well. I speak my mind.

"When somebody says something to me, I’ll say something back to him.”

Red Bull Max Verstappen Mercedes Belgian Grand Prix Kimi Raikkonen Niki Lauda

Latest News

Max Verstappen

Shock early Verstappen RETIREMENT claim issued

4 minutes ago

Latest F1 News

Red Bull confirm Perez REPLACEMENT with official team statement

1 hour ago

Breaking F1 News

Perez confirms Red Bull AXE in official statement

1 hour ago

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Hamilton mid-season AXE threat revealed as rival plots timeline for Ferrari move

Today 15:51

F1 Off the Track

F1 collection revealed in official release

Today 13:57

Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo issues WARNING amid Verstappen row

Today 12:59

More news

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY