Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

Appeal Of Max Verstappen Draws More Than 20,000 To Belgian Grand Prix

Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen "may not be winning many friends among other drivers -- especially those from Ferrari -- but his aggressive, unapologetic, fearless driving is wonderfully entertaining for fans," according to the AP. The 18-year-old Dutchman is "the youngest to win a race and to start from the front row of the grid," and he is also "just what F1 needs in an era of fading former champions." Verstappen’s "star factor drew more than 20,000 Dutch fans to the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend." Legions of "orange-clad fans queued at the entry gates." Dutch flags were dotted around the Spa grandstands. Mercedes Motorsport Dir Toto Wolff: "He is refreshing for me. He is a young boy that I like a lot. He comes in here, no fear, no respect. He puts the elbow out and it reminds me of the great ones." High praise "indeed, from Wolff, who might have added that Verstappen also has some of the brashness that typified seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher." Wolff said, "You can clearly see that some guys around are starting to think twice how to overtake him. I just fear that it might end up in the wall heavily one day. For me it is refreshing, but it is dangerous" (AP, 8/29).

LAUDA HITS OUT: DUTCH NEWS reported former F1 driver Niki Lauda has accused Verstappen of recklessness after "the Dutchman’s heated duel with Finnish rival" Kimi Räikkönen during the Belgian Grand Prix. The three-time world champion, now a technical adviser to Mercedes, said that he would be "having words with Verstappen’s father Jos about the teenager's aggressive driving style." Lauda: "Drivers mustn't put each other in danger unnecessarily. He went way over the limit when he didn't need to. The boy lacks the insight to see he has made a mistake" (DUTCH NEWS, 8/29).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2016/08/30/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Max-Verstappen.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2016/08/30/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Max-Verstappen.aspx

CLOSE