Max Verstappen explains generational pressure difference to the late Diego Maradona

Bahrain Grand Prix

Verstappen explains generational pressure difference to the late Maradona

Management and family helped Red Bull driver during breakthrough F1 years

Ewan Gale

Thursday 26 November 2020 17:50

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has revealed he is able to stay grounded despite his meteoric rise in Formula 1 at such a young age due to the quality of his management and personnel around him.

After the death of legendary footballer Diego Maradona, a talent who was forced to deal with immense pressure and scrutiny after breaking onto the world stage at a similarly young age, Verstappen was asked about his own experiences of dealing with such expectation at the beginning of his career.

Verstappen made the step up to F1 directly from what was then the European F3 championship in 2015 at 17, later becoming the youngest winner of a grand prix a season later when he took the chequered flag in Spain.

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Explaining the differences between himself and Maradona, Verstappen said: "I think what is very important is that you need the right people around you to make sure it doesn't get to you.

"Of course, we are different generations, different sports and also I don't live in a country where I have the biggest fanbase.

"A lot of things are taken care of around me anyway with my manager, of course, and my dad and other people who are around me who are close. That takes a lot of the pressure away."

Verstappen explained that even though he is constantly under pressure to perform, he is ultimately enjoying his job which, coupled with his support network, enables him to extract his potential.

"I love what I am doing," he added. "I just live my life, to be honest.

"Covid helps, nobody is stalking you! Jokes aside, of course, it is important to have the right people around you in order to support you."

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