Max Verstappen

Verstappen insists INCREDIBLE Cruyff link 'CAN'T be coincidence'

Harry Smith Tuesday 13 June 2023 08:57

Verstappen insists INCREDIBLE Cruyff link 'CAN'T be coincidence'

Max Verstappen has revealed the link between himself and the late football legend, Johan Cruyff, detailing the impact he had on his career.

Verstappen struck up a relationship with the Barcelona and Ajax legend back in 2016 during Cruyff's battle with lung cancer.

In a report from The Times, it was revealed that the duo had met back in 2016 during pre-season testing when Cruyff visited the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to meet his young compatriot.

Despite his positivity about his chances of beating the illness, Cruyff passed away just a few weeks after meeting Verstappen on March 24th, 2016.

Verstappen's Cruyff inspiration

As explained in his interview with The Times, Verstappen's first F1 victory, which was taken just two months after the death of Cruyff, produced an unexpected ode to his compatriot.

With a winning time of 1.41:40, Verstappen's total race time honoured Cruyff's iconic #14 twice.

Verstappen didn't think there was anything coincidental about the victory time either.

“For me, something like that — it can’t be coincidence. It’s very crazy that that has happened."

Verstappen claimed his first ever F1 victory at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix

Verstappen also explained how happy he was to have met Cruyff before his passing later in 2016.

“I am never a person who really likes to meet anyone like a famous person. I am not interested. Zero interest. But I was actually very happy that I’d met him."

Latest News

GPFans Recap

McLaren boss Brown announces exit as Red Bull handed boost - F1 Recap

Yesterday 23:58

F1 Social

Max Verstappen given major family celebration after Paris announcement

Yesterday 22:57

McLaren

McLaren chief admits Norris and Piastri on collision course

Yesterday 21:54

F1 Social

Lewis Hamilton smiling again as F1 legend pictured with celebrity crush

Yesterday 20:57

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Hamilton makes London return as Ferrari quit verdict issued

Yesterday 20:47
1

Red Bull

Red Bull make incredible Max Verstappen blunder

Yesterday 19:58

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2025

GP AUSTRALIA 14 - 14 Mar

GP BAHRAIN 11 - 11 Apr

Oscar Piastri

GP SAUDI ARABIA 18 - 18 Apr

Oscar Piastri

GP USA 2 - 2 May

GP ITALY 16 - 16 May

GP MONACO 23 - 23 May

GP SPAIN 30 - 30 May

GP CANADA 13 - 13 Jun

Complete kalender 2025

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