Max Verstappen has expressed full support for departing Red Bull figure Adrian Newey regarding claims about bias in the British media’s coverage of Formula 1.
Max Verstappen has expressed full support for departing Red Bull figure Adrian Newey regarding claims about bias in the British media’s coverage of Formula 1.
Although Newey has signed with Aston Martin from 2025 onwards, sparking rumours that Verstappen might follow, he has defended the Dutchman for how he’s often portrayed in the UK press.
“There’s a sort of demonisation that both of them suffered at times which I think is very unfair,” Newey commented, also referring to Sebastian Vettel.
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ewey pointed out that this bias was present in the “British media” more broadly, while also criticising the “quite nationalistic” nature of Sky’s F1 coverage, which is broadcast to many countries.
Dutch racing figure Tom Coronel praised Newey for his “honesty.”
“He’s British after all,” Coronel told Viaplay.
“People sometimes tell me to take off my orange glasses, but I don’t necessarily wear orange glasses,” Coronel continued. “I just like the attacking style. That’s why I’ve always been a fan of Max. There’s never a dull moment. There’s always something going on around him. There’s fire in that man, whether he crashes or wins,” he added.
“So I think it is very honest of Newey to be outspoken like this in the English press. Because then he’s also opening himself up for criticism,” Coronel observed.
Importantly, Verstappen shares Newey’s perspective on the British bias in F1.
“Absolutely. I agree 100 per cent,” the Dutch triple world champion told Viaplay.
“In terms of discussions, you will always defend your countryman instead of the other,” Verstappen said. “But you also try to keep it as neutral as possible and some countries go overboard with it, I think.”
“In the end, they can say and shout whatever they want. It doesn’t matter to me,” Verstappen concluded.