Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has received a high award before his home Grand Prix in the Netherlands. Mick Schumacher's team boss draws attention online before the 15th race of the season on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky and RTL).
Officer Verstappen
Max Verstappen was honored before his Formula 1 home game in Zandvoort. The Red Bull pilot was made an officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau. With this, the Netherlands honors people who have achieved special merits. It was an "incredibly proud moment," said the 24-year-old. Verstappen's mother Sophie Kumpen is Belgian, but his father Jos Verstappen is Dutch. The world champion was born and raised in Belgium. But he also decided to drive under the Dutch flag because of his father, a former Formula 1 driver. "But I'm glad I'm half and half," said Max Verstappen.
Best seller Steiner
Mick Schumacher's Haas team boss Günther Steiner has become a cult figure thanks to his robust nature in the Netflix Formula 1 documentary "Drive to Survive". The US racing team has therefore also launched T-shirts with the portrait and sayings of the South Tyrolean. According to Haas, the rush even paralyzed the online shop for a short time. Steiner himself thought the internet hype was a joke. "I won't wear the shirts, that would be too much of a good thing," he said with a laugh.
Wrong gravel bed
Last year, Formula 1 drivers who drove over the curb in the tricky Hans Ernst chicane repeatedly threw gravel onto the track. The organizers in Zandvoort now want to counteract this. Behind the curb there is a strip about a meter wide where the gravel is coated with a resin-like material. This fake gravel can no longer be thrown up so easily. However, the conventional gravel bed continues to connect to the strip.
Cool teammate
A two-time world champion comes for a four-time world champion. Lance Stroll will once again have an exceptional driver at his side for the coming season at Aston Martin in Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard replaces Sebastian Vettel, who is retiring at the end of this season. "He's an incredible driver and a huge talent," said Lance Stroll, whose father Lawrence co-owns the team, of Alonso. "He brings a lot of positive energy, people are really excited." It will be cool, Stroll continued.
