Max: "I train twice a day, three to four hours"

Published on 12 May 2017 by Stefan Meens

Formula 1 is tougher than ever for the drivers in 2017. With new cars, bigger tyres and bigger wings, the cars are faster and more pure. It means Max Verstappen has to be on top of his physical game, more than ever.

On Instagram we Max hit the gym on a regular basis. But more specifically, how has he prepared himself for this season?

Why is it even more important to train harder this season?
“The cars are quite a bit faster and tougher to driver because of the higher corner speeds. That’s why it’s important to be physically stronger than last year.”

Did your neck hurt after the first training session in the new car?
“Yes, I hadn’t been in the car for two months. If you than start the real training in the car, everything still feels a bit stiff. But the second day, everything feels fine.”

Who puts together your training schedule?
“My personal trainer. He’s been with me since the end of 2014. We’ve got a good relationship. My schedule is similar to last tear’s, but the session are longer and tougher. That’s to prepare me for the higher g-forces in the car.”

Can you give us an insight into your training schedule?
“Every day I train twice, each session lasts three to four hours. In the morning it’s often cardio, followed by weight training in the afternoon. However, I can’t do too much weight training because otherwise I would become to heavy. So we mix it up a bit. It often depends on what I’ve done the day before. If the legs hurt, you’re not going to cycle the next day. You’ll do different things.”

Do you engage in other sports next to Formula 1?
“I often train on my bicycle. Apart from that, I don’t really have much time for other sports. But I do love being in the water. So I enjoy sports like waterskiing and wakeboarding.”

Do those sports help your relax?
“Yes, it helps me relax but it doesn’t really have a benefit in terms of racing.”

You’re in the gym a lot. What’s your favorite exercise?
“I don’t really have a favorite to be honest. I do have ones that are the worst. The ones that destroy you, where your heartbeat is pushed to 190. Those ones are the hardest but they’re necessary.”

Do you enjoy training or do you need extra motivation?
“If I had to do this all alone, it wouldn’t be fun. Luckily, I’ve got my personal trainer. He pushes me and it’s fun to do stuff together.”

Nutrition is important. Does someone cook your meals or do you cook yourself?
“Luckily my trainer is an alright cook so I leave him to it. I’m not exactly a expert in the kitchen and I don’t mind it that way.”

Does you diet have restricted portions?
“Most of the time. We need to keep an eye on our weight so most meals aren’t exactly extravagant.”

Are there certain you aren’t allowed to eat and certain foods that are very important to eat?
“I don’t eat much bread. It adds weight quickly. I can gain and lose weight quickly so I’m careful with that. I pay attention to the right mix of meat and vegetables. If I’ve done some training or spent time in the car it’s important to have enough energy so then I eat quite a lot. But on the days I’m not training, I have to pay closer attention to what I eat.”

If you go to party, do you drink water or Red Bull? Or are you allowed to drink alcohol?
“It depends where we are in the season. Basically, I don’t drink during the season so it’s usually water. I only drink Red Bull ahead of training or a race, when I’m going to burn that energy. And in the off-season I can have a drink at a party.”

What race are you looking forward to the most?
“Spa and Austria, because there are loads of Dutch fans. Last year it was already very special. In Spa I had a good qualifying to so hopefully this year we can have a good race.”

Do you want to know how Max stays fit? Ask him on www.fitmetmax.nl