“Red Bull felt the world championship was being staged”: Max Verstappen’s countryman speculates about British media’s narrative
Former Dutch racer Jan Lammers has discussed the influence of British media's narratives over Max Verstappen and Red Bull's efforts to defend their world championships. In the past, there has been speculation in the paddock and the F1 fanbase about British media being biased towards British drivers and against the likes of Verstappen.
These discussions arose at several points in the past few years whenever a British journalist criticized Verstappen for his on-track battles. Lammers addressed this while speaking with RacingNews365. He spoke about Verstappen and Red Bull feeling their world championship fight with Lando Norris and McLaren was staged simply because of the influential narrative British media allegedly wove.
Lammers also discussed Red Bull's rough start of the 2024 F1 season. While the Austrian team was doing exceptionally well on the track, they were engulfed in controversies away from it. Team boss Christian Horner was accused of inappropriate behavior and there was tension between Horner, Helmut Marko, and Jos Verstappen.
"If you look at how they started the year, with the rumbling of the transgressive behavior, then with the situation between Horner and (Jos) Verstappen, Helmut Marko who was still under discussion and all the stories we had, and now also the British media and the race management, who do things that make you think, that you thought: Is this a coincidence or what is going on?
I can really imagine that Max Verstappen and the Red Bull team really felt, whether that was the case or not, that the world championship was being staged," Lammers said.
Max Verstappen recently ended his 10-race win drought by clinching a monumental victory at the 2024 F1 Brazilian GP.
Max Verstappen takes a jab at British media after winning the Brazilian GP
After winning the 2024 F1 Brazilian GP, Max Verstappen took a jab at British media during the post-race press conference. While the top three drivers were discussing their race, the three-time world champion asked where all the British media representatives were, as he was unable to see a single one.
"I have a quick question here. I mean, I appreciate all of you being here, but I don't see any British press. They had to run to the airport? Or they don't know where the press conference is?" Max Verstappen said.
After his win, Verstappen extended his lead in the drivers' championship table with 393 points, while McLaren's Lando Norris remains in second place with 331 points.