Verstappen insider blasts Drive to Survive star: 'I really hate it when people do that'

Buxton as F1 TV presenter — Photo: © IMAGO

Latest F1 News

Max Verstappen insider blasts Drive to Survive star: 'I really hate it when people do that'

The beef we did not see coming

Graham Shaw Consultant Editor

Digital sports specialist running global brands for 30 years

Tuesday 7 July 2026 12:30

Make us your Google favorite

It is the media beef we did not expect to be reporting on this morning - ace Dutch F1 insider Erik van Haren vs 'Drive to Survive' veteran Will Buxton. What a world.

Van Haren, respected correspondent for leading Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, was extremely unhappy (and probably other words as well) when Buxton teased a 'huge' announcement incoming on Monday.

At precisely 1146 UK time, Buxton dropped his bombshell on social media, teasing his 631,000 followers (and many more) with this intriguing nugget:

Article continues under video

"Hearing a big announcement is on the way before the end of the day. If it is what I think it is, it’s absolutely massive."

This vague posting is not unusual for media members, and it certainly had the desired impact. F1 social media went into meltdown with best guesses about what Buxton's 'scoop' might possibly be:

Was Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull?

Was Christian Horner joining Aston Martin?

Was Lewis Hamilton retiring?

Was Fernando Alonso retiring?

We had all of these scenarios and many more mooted, as the hours ticked by and the frenzy built. We even had other media members joining in, saying they too had heard something big was brewing. Was it the same thing?

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen exit clause active as Horner breaks silence

Buxton's scoop sticks a massive pin in F1 balloon

All of the above would still be pretty much fine but for one small fact (if you're an F1 fan). Buxton does not report only on F1, he's also an IndyCar guy now with podcasts on both sides of the pond covering both series.

And of course, turned out his massive scoop related to the US series and had nothing to do with F1. Namely the fact that six-time champion Scott Dixon was leaving Ganassi for McLaren.

So, there is zero doubt it was a big story, but that didn't soften the blow for the many F1 fans who had got themselves into a frenzy of excitement over something that ultimately would not even concern them.

Van Haren driven 'crazy' by vague posting

We can definitely add van Haren to the list, with the Dutch insider referencing Buxton's post during his De Telegraaf podcast on Monday afternoon.

He told listeners: There’s one thing that drives me absolutely crazy. You’ve got Will Buxton - known to many from 'Drive to Survive'; I believe he’s working for IndyCar in the US now, keeping things on track over there.

"He’ll tweet something - I really hate it when people do that, and there are plenty of journalists with a habit of it - but it ends up flooding me with messages.

"So, he tweets this thing this afternoon, and now everyone is messaging me. After what happened yesterday, people start thinking Max Verstappen is leaving Red Bull - all because of people like that. It drives you absolutely mad.

"Everyone just wants to score a headline. Just a little insight and a bit of frustration."

Why did Buxton's post really annoy van Haren

So this is a pet hate for van Haren (and many other people), but why did this particularly get to him? Timing, that's why.

Erik is about as close as it gets to team Verstappen and the current frosty relationship between the four-time world champion and his Red Bull team. Oh, and right about now, Max's much-publicised exit clause is coming officially into play.

So people obviously add two plus two and come out with 27. But it's van Haren who is flooded with calls and questions.

This is sports media in 2026. Never dull, often fun but sometimes very very tiring.

Written by

Graham Shaw - Consultant Editor

Digital sports leader with 30 years of senior level experience running global brands. Built sportinglife.com to be a behemoth in the UK as well as being in charge of the Planet Sport network of sites including planetf1.com, football365.com, teamtalk.com and planetrugby.com. Then grew goal.com to be the world's biggest soccer website in 18 languages and 37 territories. Was GM of Portals for Perform Group (now DAZN) with overall responsibility for sportingnews.com, spox.de and voetbalzone.nl.

View full biography

F1 Max Verstappen Drive to Survive Will Buxton