EXCLUSIVE: Max Verstappen Opens Up About Skipping Lewis Hamiltonโs F1 Film Red Carpet โ โChanging Nappies Is More My Sceneโ
In a sport where glitz, glamour, and celebrity often overshadow the raw competition, Max Verstappen has always stood out for his unapologetic authenticity. The reigning F1 world champion recently made headlines by choosing to skip the high-profile red carpet premiere of Lewis Hamiltonโs much-anticipated Formula 1 film. Instead, Verstappen opted for a quieter night at home, trading tuxedos and flashing cameras for what he calls โreal lifeโ โ time with his family and, as he cheekily put it, โchanging smelly nappies.โ
The snub set the F1 rumor mill spinning. Was this a calculated move? A slight toward his on-track rival? Verstappenโs answer is refreshingly candid: โBeing authentic is not something I have to try and focus on. Itโs just who I am. I donโt like to be on the red carpet and dress up in a suit. I donโt like to interact with people that I donโt really know, and have a fake smile and fake chat. Itโs horrible, I just donโt enjoy it.โ
For Verstappen, whose meteoric rise in Formula 1 has brought him global fame, the traditional trappings of celebrity culture have never held much appeal. โI prefer to hang out with my friends and spend time with my little family. I also have a lot of other projects going on outside of F1. So any extra work like red carpets is not what I want to do,โ he explained.
The Dutch superstarโs words echo the attitude he brings to the track: focused, unfiltered, and unafraid to go his own way. โIโm at a stage of my career where Iโve achieved so much professionally,โ Verstappen said. โIโm just focusing outside of it now, like my big passions to make life more enjoyable and not just being performance driven.โ
The Anti-Celebrity Champion
In an age where social media presence and red carpet appearances are carefully orchestrated, Verstappenโs willingness to buck the trend is rare. For him, authenticity is not a strategy โ itโs a necessity. โThere are people who genuinely love the spotlight, who enjoy that world. Iโm just not one of them. For me, being at home with my family is the best reward I could ask for after a tough race weekend.โ
Fans have come to love Verstappen for precisely this reason. He doesnโt pretend, doesnโt play to the cameras, and refuses to give sound bites just for show. While other drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, have embraced celebrity status, starring in fashion campaigns and appearing at major Hollywood events, Verstappenโs refusal is a statement in itself.
Priorities Shift Off the Track
As Verstappen matures โ both as a driver and as a person โ his priorities are shifting. โFormula 1 is still a huge part of my life, but I also want to experience other things. I want to be there for my family, to see my kid grow up, to enjoy the small moments that donโt make the headlines.โ
He also alluded to โother projectsโ outside F1, hinting at a growing portfolio of personal ventures and investments. While details remain closely guarded, those close to Verstappen say he is increasingly interested in using his platform to pursue passions away from the track โ from charity work to business.
F1 Community Reacts
Unsurprisingly, Verstappenโs decision to skip the red carpet was met with mixed reactions. Some traditionalists saw it as a missed opportunity to represent the sport. Others applauded his candor and down-to-earth approach.
โMax has always been his own person,โ said one F1 insider. โHe doesnโt do anything just because itโs expected. And thatโs actually very refreshing for the sport.โ
On social media, many fans voiced their support. โMore power to him,โ wrote one Twitter user. โWe need more real people in F1 and less fake glitz. Max keeps it 100%.โ
The Verstappen-Hamilton Dynamic
Of course, Verstappenโs absence did little to dampen the hype around Hamiltonโs film โ a project that blurs the line between sport and cinema, starring A-list celebrities and shining a spotlight on the drama of F1. Some speculated whether Verstappenโs snub hinted at lingering tension between the two superstars, whose on-track battles have electrified recent seasons.
But Verstappen, true to form, downplayed any personal rivalry. โThis isnโt about Lewis. Heโs doing what he loves, and I respect that. For me, I just know what I like and what I donโt. Itโs as simple as that.โ
Looking Ahead
With another championship run underway, Verstappenโs priorities are clear: success on the track, balance off it, and above all, authenticity in everything he does.
โIโm just trying to make life more enjoyable,โ he concluded, โand not just being performance driven.โ
Whether heโs racing at 200mph or simply changing nappies at home, Max Verstappen is writing his own rules โ and Formula 1, and its fans, are along for the ride.