Max Verstappen shrugged off the boos directed at him from some in the crowd at Silverstone after he claimed second place on the grid for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix.
Loud jeering was heard when Verstappen was interviewed by racing driver Billy Monger after today’s qualifying session.“I was a bit disappointed because I couldn’t really understand Billy which was a bit of a problem,” said Verstappen. “But the rest, I mean, if they want to boo they do that. For me it’s not going to change anything.”
Verstappen prevailed in a season-long championship fight with Lewis Hamilton last year. There were several flash points during the season, including a collision which left Verstappen in the Copse barrier at this race 12 months ago.
Nonetheless Verstappen is happy to return to the circuit. “I am happy to always be here,” he said. “It’s a great track, it’s a great atmosphere in general.
“Maybe some of them, they don’t like me and that’s fine. They will have their own opinions and I don’t care.”
Verstappen led much of today’s qualifying session but fell to second place when he had to slow down on his final lap because Charles Leclerc went off ahead of him, bringing the yellow flags out.
“Q3 was fine, with just my final lap I had the yellow flag so I lifted, not to have any issues,” he explained. “Then you end up just being behind in in qualifying.
“But overall, the car was good so it doesn’t matter. Of course it’s a shame to miss pole position but I also know that tomorrow is the points and that’s what like on a Sunday to go racing, especially when you have a good feeling with the car.
He will share the front row of the grid with Carlos Sainz Jnr, who he held off to claim victory at the last race in Montreal.
“I’m happy for Carlos, of course, to take his first pole position,” said Verstappen. “I think already the whole year we’ve been battling and it’s so tight all the time, every single qualifying or in the race like last time.”
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Illusive (@illusive)
2nd July 2022, 17:16
Finally a normal sportsman with a thick skin. There is still hope.
Barry Bens (@barryfromdownunder)
2nd July 2022, 17:23
The big difference between Brits and the Dutch: When Hamilton was booed last year at Zandvoort, both the commentators and the guy interviewing (Giedo van der Garde) called it shameful behaviour and Giedo even told the booed to stop.
Meanwhile in the UK, Billy doesn’t give a hoot and the commentators ignore it entirely.
The home of autosport? More like the home of unsportmanship…
jff
2nd July 2022, 17:26
Billy is still very young and he might simply not know how/if to react.
I wouldn’t hold it against him.
Wilczak (@)
2nd July 2022, 17:30
Don’t be ridiculous. This was predictable. Someone responsible for this aspect should instruct him what to say and how to behave.
jff
2nd July 2022, 19:12
You might think I’m ridiculous, but I still wouldn’t hold it against him.
N
2nd July 2022, 17:26
“The big difference between Brits and the Dutch…”
Get off your high horse, you’ve literally just admitted that the only difference between the 2 nations wasn’t the actual crowd but the couple of individuals commentating.
HJ
2nd July 2022, 17:31
Nevermind Barry. Give these people their annual booingfest. Max doesn’t care, and most his fans neither.
sethje (@seth-space)
2nd July 2022, 18:34
Its a kind of compliment.. they see him as the big bad wolf blowing away the house .
HJ
2nd July 2022, 19:31
Or the opposition ;-)
cutregebito
2nd July 2022, 18:00
If the Silverstone crowd does not boo you, you are not doing it right
Cronies
3rd July 2022, 7:13
UK news media, motoring media, fans are anto Max – he is the villain. Max understands this, it is part of sport. He can accept that this is these people’s views, how he has been portrayed. So they have there moment.
At the Dutch race it will swing 180, and most other places around the world.
He seems more than capable of accepting this and not letting it worry him – It is all part of the “game’.
Mahesh (@m47e57)
2nd July 2022, 17:36
Some fans think they’re at the pantomine!
Electroball76
2nd July 2022, 17:58
“He’s behind you!”
Arnoud van Houwelingen (@kavu)
2nd July 2022, 18:06
I was in Zandvoort last year and the booing was way way less than we heard today. Really shameful to be honest. I always thought that the British fans were the best fans. If you don’t like Max or even dislike him you can also be quit. What Giedo vd Garde did last year was first class when he said that the crowd should not boo. The British media in general are very anti Max lately and in FP3 the presenter said Verstappen was amazingly quick and Damon Hill said “unfortunately yes” .. that sums it up pretty well although Hill is probably the most Anti Max of them all.
Mahesh (@m47e57)
2nd July 2022, 18:41
In what world did you think British fans were the best behaved?!! I always feel so ashamed when I see them mercilessly booing everything in sight and drinking way too much…
MichaelN
2nd July 2022, 20:18
The best fans are without question the Japanese. They’re racing fans first and foremost and appreciate everyone involved in the series. Even the slowest teams get their fair share of support at Fuji and Suzuka.
Anything else is just national hosts pandering to their national audience, which is fine to a degree, but that’s what it is.
Mia
2nd July 2022, 18:51
Max said last year he couldn’t influence the crowd not boo Ham. And he was not willing to do anything. In fact, he was visibly gleeful. At least Ham said something here. Why do you demand crowd here to be influenced by Billy or otherwise? Max is a big guy, isn’t he? Why the need to molly coddle him? Why so upset. Max said he doesn’t care. He said. As if anyone believed it. Look at his rather shocked and uneasy reaction when he heard. And it obviously bothered Horner.
Mayrton
3rd July 2022, 8:40
The essence is that Max really doesnt care either way. Him being booed or Lewis. He wants to race and would be glad to do it without press or audience. He is not here for the show.
Moshambles (@moshambles)
3rd July 2022, 8:33
When the Dutch fans booed, it was akward and embarrassing for long term F1 fans. It’s rare and we’re not accustome to it, at least not on TV. Now the precedent has been set, it may happen more often, which would be a shame. It really feels like it doesn’t belong in F1. Toxic fan culture in many other sports makes it difficult for me to have an interest at all in the sports. It’s the most childish dehaviour, masked as tough haha. Actual grown-ups
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
3rd July 2022, 9:11
British fans did the same to Vettel in 2011, 2012 and 2013. So don’t pretend they were shocked last year aye?