F1 fans unconvinced by Max Verstappen’s latest comments on stress

Verstappen has just appeared on the Talking Bull Podcast, where he said missing out on this year’s title won’t “stress” him out or change his plans.

“You still have a lot of years to enjoy or do something else in your life,” he said. “Then, honestly, it doesn’t really matter what you have done.

“When I’m going to be 50 years old, 60 years old, do you think I care if I’ve won four or seven [titles]. I mean, what is that going to matter to my life? I’m still going to order the same drink, I’m still going to eat the same food. It’s not going to change what I’m going to do after in my life,” Verstappen continued.

“That’s why I try to also just look at it a lot more in a relaxed way. Just don’t stress about it. Stress is very bad for you and you’re gonna die sooner if you have a lot of stress, so I’m gonna be 250 years old.”

A number of fans on Reddit aren’t buying into his laid-back stance though and feel he’s trying too hard to play down how much this one meant.

One fan posted: “Been watching Verstappen for years. Sorry but he is one of the more highly strung and aggressive drivers on track. Driving and how he expresses himself.”

A second added: “Max is overdoing it on this whole schtick now. Feels like his way of dealing with not winning the championship this year.”

Others also doubted his calm persona: “‘Hmm yeah that’s a lie,” while another referenced past incidents with George Russell: “Max is so chill and laid back, he would never road rage into Russell.”

Why Max Verstappen approaches race celebrations differently now

A few seasons back, when Red Bull were winning almost everything in sight, Verstappen’s podium receptions weren’t always the friendliest.

It’s not a great look to see a driver get booed simply for being successful. Sebastian Vettel went through something similar back in 2013.

In response, Verstappen has shifted how he celebrates wins. It’s a change that may have helped his standing with fans this year.

That shift, along with the sense that he kept the title race far more competitive than many expected, played a part in why supporters started to warm to him again during the 2025 season.