Max Verstappen 'myth' debunked with Red Bull star targeting glory ahead of Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen 'myth' debunked with Red Bull star targeting glory ahead of Japanese Grand Prix

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Max Verstappen prepares for Japanese Grand Prix

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 03/04/2024

- 11:14

The 26-year-old will be hoping to bounce back after struggling in Australia last time out

Max Verstappen's former performance coach Brad Scanes has claimed it is a 'myth' the 26-year-old brings his PlayStation to the track to unwind ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Verstappen is believed to be a keen gamer and enjoys playing FIFA (now known as EA FC) in his spare time.


The Red Bull star is the best driver on the planet, having won the last three F1 titles.

And Scanes knows all about the Dutchman and how he's been able to etch his name into the history of the sport.

Max Verstappen Red Bull

Max Verstappen is currently preparing for the Japanese Grand Prix with Red Bull seeking a return to winning ways

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Now, however, he has shut down claims Verstappen brings his PlayStation to the track - insisting that isn't the case.

He told Sky Sports: "It's a bit of a myth that it was kind of before or in between sessions.

"We never had the PlayStation at track or anything like that.

"It was only like going back and playing in the evening.

"It could be FIFA, it could be Call of Duty, it could be some virtual racing.

"But it was his way to switch off, get downtime and spend some time with his friends because they're all on there as well.

"And that can't go unnoticed because we're away.

"We're in a hotel room and in the last two years, Max hasn't really been able to go out, even go out for dinner and stuff because it's impossible with the fans and the hype around it, super difficult.

"So having that ability to be able to communicate with your friends and have that downtime and think about something else, again, probably can't go unnoticed in terms of how successful he's been switching off and then being able to shift back into, 'okay, we're back to kind of F1.' I think that's super, super important."

"I played a few times, got beat a few times.

"It took me three years to beat him but I finally did.

"It was on a plane journey, actually. I finally got one over. I definitely celebrated."

Scanes also said that he enjoyed working with Verstappen because he and the Red Bull driver, as well as his father Jos, were all on the same page.

That's something he believes has been key to Verstappen's success.

"I think just clarity of vision," Scanes said.

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Brad Scanes

Brad Scanes has opened up on Max Verstappen ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix

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"We were all there to achieve the same thing. We were all there to win a world championship and guide Max through that. But also have a good time doing it as well.

"They're a very open and honest group as well, and that suited the way that I like to work as well.

"So if someone's not happy about something, nothing ever goes unsaid. You sort it out there and then.

"If you make a mistake, you come in and say, 'sorry, mate, I made a mistake.'

"And chat it out if it needs to be chatted out, or we just say, 'yeah, that's fine,' and move on from there.

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen will be aiming to win a third race of the season when the Japanese Grand Prix commences

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"So clarity of vision, communication, and open, and honesty. And for me, it was beautiful because I really was part of the family.

"They would invite me to kind of birthdays and stuff while I was in Monaco. I'd be around his, or I'd go out for dinner with his manager or a beer with his dad, without him as well.

"It doesn't go unnoticed that that's a huge part of his success as well. And you extend that group as well because you've got a very close-knit team of engineers around him as well.

"So his race engineer, his performance engineer and they fit in the same way.

"On a race weekend, it would be Max, his dad, his manager, me, race engineer, performance engineer, we would go out for dinner and it would be that sort of close-knit group. So it really works and I think it's been a big part of the success that we've had and he'll continue to have."

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