Max Verstappen’s jibe: “I can get off to a faster start on foot than in the car”

Formula 1 fans are familiar with the procedure: at the end of a free practice session, the drivers line up their cars in the starting grid and practise a quick getaway for Sunday’s race. Well, a more or less quick getaway, when we’re talking about Max Verstappen.

Starts remain a persistent problem for the four-time world champion. The 29-year-old Dutchman had this to say on the matter in Texas: “We’ve got a few areas to work on. For instance, the radio hasn’t been working properly a few times this year. We’ve looked into that. And our starts really need to improve – so far, they’ve been consistently rubbish.”

Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies added here in Mexico: “Unfortunately, the difficulties with getting away aren’t that easy to solve. We’re talking about a very delicate interplay between the engine, turbocharger, clutch and gearbox. We’ll only sort this out by making changes to both software and hardware.” In other words – not until 2027.

It’s not down to the Red Bull Powertrains-Ford power unit alone: after all, the Racing Bulls’ cars, fitted with the same engine, generally get off to a better start.

Max Verstappen’s fans will have to brace themselves for the fact that their favourite driver will have his work cut out for him at the start in Mexico too.

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After all, following practice starts here at the Autódromo at the end of the second practice session, the 73-time Grand Prix winner reported over the radio: “I can get off the mark faster on foot than in this racing car. I mean, I did a practice start from the pit lane – a disaster. I did a practice start on the start-finish straight – another disaster.”

“Why don’t we change something? I might as well start like we used to at Le Mans, you know. I’ll run to the car, give it a push and jump in. And then I’ll get on with the race.”

There’s no record of a response from the command centre to Max Verstappen’s sarcastic remarks.