Verstappen explains absence from F1 movie preview

F1
Max Verstappen, Monaco GP

Verstappen stayed home on Wednesday

Getty Images

Max Verstappen says Formula 1 bosses were aware that he would not attend the preview of the F1 movie on Wednesday, saying he wanted to spend his time at home.

Verstappen and Lance Stroll were the only current F1 drivers who didn’t attend a preview of the new F1 movie in Monaco, the world champion instead deciding to stream simracing on Twitch under the alias ‘FranzHermann69’.

The Dutchman had used the Franz Hermann name on the official entry list during his record-breaking GT3 Nürburgring run earlier this month.

Verstappen has recently become a dad and said he was in no rush to watch the Brad Pitt-starred movie.

“I notified FOM about that so they were well aware that you know I wasn’t attending,” said Verstappen on Thursday in Monaco. “I wanted to spend more private time, because it is private time at the end of the day, the evening also.

“I mean, I think it’s coming out in June. So, I mean, I’ll download it on Apple. So, yeah, of course, I get it, you know, there was the opportunity to watch it, but if I watch it now or in three or four weeks that’s fine as well.

“I heard good stuff from the movie, so I’m sure that it’s going to be exciting.”

Related article

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc said he was impressed by the movie, even though he admitted it had not been made for F1 drivers.

“It’s Hollywood-like and I think that’s really really cool because it’s not for F1 drivers at the end, it’s for a broader audience,” said Leclerc, speaking in the Monaco GP press conference.

“And I thought it’s absolutely great for the sport to have a movie like that. The scenes are incredible. I’m super impressed by how the camera was put onto the cars and the angles that we see from the cars driving.

“I know that Brad drove a little bit of the cars himself which is very impressive and I’m sure he enjoyed it so it’s really cool and I think for F1 it’s amazing because obviously we are reaching people that we wouldn’t have reached without this movie.

Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar added: “It was weird to watch a movie about Formula 1. It was quite strange. I think it’s going to send the sport into another dimension again. It’s going to make the sport even bigger, which is nice.

“I think it’s hard to give feedback as drivers because we’re really critical. But I think if you’re a kid or someone who doesn’t know about the sport, I think it’s the best way to get started.”

“I think they’ve done a good balance, to be honest with you,” said Williams driver Alexander Albon. “I think it’s hard to not look at everything with a fine comb and just see it for what it is and just relax and watch it as a movie.

“It was almost, I think for Hollywood and for what we do, I think they did a good job.”

Sauber‘s Gabriel Bortoleto said: “I think it’s a very Hollywood one, but it’s nice. I mean, it’s gonna be very good for those that are, you know, they still don’t know the sport so much, and it’s gonna be very good for our sport.”

The F1 movie, starring Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, will be released internationally on June 25 and in North America on June 27.

You may also like