Max from Canada: 'I'm taking it race by race'
Published on 13 June 2025 by Misha van der Kroon
The Formula 1 circus has arrived in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. After a string of European races, it’s time for a stop across the Atlantic before the paddock moves on to Austria. Max Verstappen appears before the media in the Canadian city, slightly jet-lagged but ready to look ahead to the weekend.
Verstappen is realistic about his expectations for the race: “I wish we were as competitive as we used to be. But things are looking a bit different for us now. Barcelona wasn’t great, we were too slow. We could put a bit of pressure on McLaren, but of course we want to be further ahead. A realistic goal would be to try and get on the podium. That would be a good result. I hope we can fight with Ferrari and Mercedes. That’s already tough enough for us. Maybe some fun things will happen in the race, but for now I’m just taking it race by race. I’m doing my best and trying to get some good results.”
Verstappen also sees that the car has made progress in certain areas: “Compared to last year, the car is more driveable. We don’t have as many major balance issues anymore. We’re just lacking the overall performance compared to McLaren. We know our weaknesses. But we’re heading in the right direction compared to last year.”
In Canada, there’s also a lot of attention on the incident between Max and George Russell in Spain. Max received a penalty there and now sits at 11 penalty points. At 12, he’d face a race ban, but Verstappen isn’t too worried: “It’s quite clear. I got a penalty for something. That move wasn’t ideal. But it is what it is. I’m still doing my best, and it doesn’t change my approach. Is it fair that I have 11 penalty points now? I don’t know. But at the same time, life isn’t always fair. I don’t worry about it. I just come here to race, and I’ll always race hard. And then we move on to the next race. We all live and learn.”
During the media moment, the topic of fathers in the careers of young drivers also came up. Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli are often accompanied by their fathers at the track. For Max Verstappen, that’s familiar territory - his father Jos played a central role for years. “I worked a lot with my dad from when I was four years old up to the start of my Formula 1 career. He has a lot of experience, of course, and helped me a lot throughout my career. Now I’ve got my own experience, of course. He’s around less now, but I still really enjoy it when he’s there.”
A lighter moment arises when Max is asked about Valentine’s Day. In Brazil, where his girlfriend Kelly Piquet is from, it’s celebrated on a different date than in Europe. “Facetime saved me,” Max laughs. “I didn’t know there were two different Valentine’s Days. For us, it’s on February 14.”
Finally, Verstappen looks ahead to the Montreal circuit, which almost always produces unpredictable races: “I like the corners, it’s a bit go-kart style. There are a lot of high-speed sections and big braking zones. I’ve always enjoyed it. The weather could come into play as well. That makes it an interesting Grand Prix where a lot can happen.”
Verstappen hopes the team can take a step forward compared to the competition. Whether that will be enough for a top result remains to be seen this weekend.
Contest GP Canada: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing 2025 cap!
