Max Verstappen was one of the only drivers who wasn’t interviewed during F1 75 Live on Tuesday evening. He simply did what was required, carrying out his media obligations earlier in the day before he appeared on stage at the O2 Arena.
David Croft says Verstappen didn’t seem ‘full of joy’ during the Red Bull press conference. He made clear last year that he wasn’t a fan of the joint-launch extravaganza.
Every team had seven minutes on stage, and they could use that time how they pleased. The only team member who addressed the crowd, Christian Horner was roundly booed.
Verstappen and new teammate Liam Lawson waved to the fans as they walked onto the stage with dancers, but that was the extent of their interaction. The team presented their RB21 livery and then their segment concluded.
According to one journalist, Verstappen sounded sarcastically enthused when discussing the event. Perhaps he viewed it as an unnecessary and elaborate distraction.
The FIA weren’t happy that Red Bull were booed, but the event has been widely considered a success. It smashed the record for the most-watched broadcast on the sport’s official channel.
Lance Stroll lacked enthusiasm for F1 75 season launch, just like Max Verstappen
Verstappen wasn’t the only driver who appeared disinterested. Multiple observers have said the same about Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has previously claimed that the ‘unhappy’ Stroll doesn’t want to be in F1. And his demeanour on Tuesday may support that theory.
According to The Athletic’s Luke Smith, there was a ‘vast difference in enthusiasm’ between Stroll and teammate Fernando Alonso when Aston Martin were on stage. In one of the most spectacular launches of the night, they showed a James Bond-inspired video before a performance from R&B artist Tems.
Motorsport’s Emily Selleck adds that Stroll ‘looked like he’d rather be anywhere else’. They quipped that ‘some things never change’, hinting at the recurring questions around the Canadian driver.
And finally, in the words of Auto Motor und Sport’s Michael Schmidt, the 26-year-old ‘was talking to the point of almost falling asleep’. He did at least participate in the team’s Bond-style reveal, cinematically removing his helmet before greeting the crowd.
Lance Stroll questions what David Croft has said about his life outside racing
Stroll has tested a rally car this winter, which may be a hint that he’s exploring options outside F1. Like Verstappen, he might love racing, but not enjoy the fanfare attached to the sport.
Will Buxton says Stroll ‘hates’ being interviewed more than any other driver. The media and commercial commitments are truly endless.
There’s even one wild school of thought that he could quit motorsport altogether and play tennis. His seat is safe while father Lawrence Stroll remains in charge, so he may have to decide to leave himself.
Stroll has played down his tennis ability, suggesting that Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has exaggerated it. He rubbished any notion that he’s good enough to play on the ATP Tour.
