Max Verstappen suggests he may skip 2025 season-opening car launch
Max Verstappen recently made a tongue-in-cheek remark about the upcoming F1 75 car launch event, which will take place at the O2 Arena in London in February 2025. The event, designed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 championship, marks a departure from the traditional pre-season car reveals. Instead of a typical presentation where each team introduces their new cars individually, F1 has decided to host a large-scale spectacle that will feature all 20 drivers, all 10 team principals, and various entertainment elements, including special guest presenters. Tickets for the event are priced between £58 and £113, giving fans a chance to experience the glamour and excitement surrounding the sport’s new season.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing that this would be the first time all the drivers, team principals, and fans would come together to celebrate the start of the new season. He highlighted that the event would not only mark a major milestone in the sport’s history but also offer an unforgettable experience for Formula 1 fans. Domenicali referred to the 2025 season as potentially one of the most memorable in F1 history, given the intense drama of the 2024 campaign, and described the event as a fantastic opportunity for fans of all ages to engage with the sport in a new way.
However, Verstappen, a three-time world champion, didn’t share Domenicali’s enthusiasm for the event. In a humorous exchange during a Call of Duty livestream, the Dutch driver was asked about the F1 75 event and responded by expressing confusion, saying, “What is F1 75? What are you talking about?” When informed about the plans for the car launch event, Verstappen’s response was blunt: “I don’t watch any F1… I hope I’m sick that week.” His remark was delivered in jest, but it underscores Verstappen’s longstanding dissatisfaction with the off-track spectacle that often accompanies Formula 1.
Verstappen’s criticism of the entertainment aspects of F1 is not a new development. The Red Bull driver has consistently voiced his disinterest in the “show” elements of the sport, preferring to focus on the racing itself rather than the surrounding events and media activities. This stance was especially evident during the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023. The race weekend featured an extravagant opening ceremony with music performances and flashy introductions, but Verstappen was vocal in his disapproval of these extracurricular activities. He bluntly stated that he felt uncomfortable in such settings, remarking, “You look like a clown.” Verstappen’s sentiments were clear: he wanted to concentrate solely on the performance side of F1, without the distractions of media fanfare or entertainment. While he acknowledged that such elements were part of the F1 package in some places, he made it clear they held no interest for him.
Despite his discontent with the Las Vegas GP’s pre-race spectacle, Verstappen’s attitude towards the race itself shifted when the action on track lived up to expectations. The race turned out to be highly competitive, with plenty of
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