10 years of Max Verstappen Grandstands in Austria: 'Others quickly copied us'
Published on 08 May 2025 by de redactie
The Max Verstappen Grandstands have been a staple in Formula 1 since 2016. At the end of June, during the Austrian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Ring will once again turn orange for the tenth season in a row. Roger Hermans, director and owner of the company behind Verstappen Travel, looks back on how the once-unique concept came to life. “No one does it on the scale that we do.”
The grandstand is not only a celebration of Formula 1 and Max Verstappen, it’s also a place where fans share joy and sorrow. One story Hermans won’t forget is that of Dennis Lok, a fan from Drenthe, the Netherlands, who marked each of Verstappen’s Grand Prix victories with a tattoo on his back.
Hermans recalls: “The management told me to find this fan among hundreds of thousands of people at the circuit. We had trailers around the track, and I knew what he looked like. I shared his photo in our WhatsApp group. One of our staff said, ‘He just bought a shirt here.’ That gave me a clue as to which campsite he was staying on. I walked around there and found him.”
What Lok told him next still sticks with Hermans. “Dennis had diabetes and had undergone a kidney and pancreas transplant. He found strength in Max and was over the moon to be back at a Grand Prix in 2018. I took him backstage, where he met his hero. I’d love to see his back now,” Hermans adds with a grin.
Lok himself reflected on the moment back in 2019: “Verstappen signed my shoulder with a marker. Two days later, I had it turned into a tattoo.” That wasn’t a one-off. As Verstappen kept racking up wins, the tattoos kept coming. “Even if he wins 91 races like Schumacher, I don’t care. I’ll keep going until I’m completely covered,” said the proud fan back then.
More info about the Max Verstappen Grandstands in Austria (27–29 June 2025): https://www.verstappen.com/tickets/austrian-gp
Orange Army
While Lok proudly shows off his ink-covered torso, the Max Verstappen Grandstands blaze bright orange. The origins of these stands go back to the summer of 2016. After the Dutchman’s impressive rookie year, Verstappen’s management and Red Bull, the owner of the Red Bull Ring, joined forces. At the Austrian GP, they created a dedicated spot for Verstappen fans, soon dubbed the “Orange Army.”
“After the first season, we approached it more professionally. We began renting permanent grandstands, and what started with one, quickly became three. The highlight was when we had 25,000 Dutch fans in the stands, all of whom booked through Verstappen.com,” Hermans explains.
Today, there are Max Verstappen Grandstands at four Grands Prix: Austria, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands. “We were unique, but others quickly copied our concept. Still, no other driver does it on the scale that we do,” says Hermans.
Book your tickets now for the Max Verstappen Grandstands in Austria (27–29 June 2025): https://www.verstappen.com/tickets/austrian-gp
