Standout races, favourite hobbies, life goals and more – Max Verstappen answers your questions in our exclusive reader Q&A

This weekend, Max Verstappen will celebrate his 250th Grand Prix on the streets of Singapore, bringing another milestone in the Dutchman’s trophy-filled F1 career that began just over a decade ago.

To mark the special occasion, F1.com recently sat down with the four-time World Champion and put your questions to him – topics spanning his F1 journey, off-track interests, future goals and much more.

So, without further ado, read on (or watch) below to find out if your question made it into Verstappen’s bag of fan mail, and what he said in response…

Emma, UK: What is the best advice someone ever gave you that helped you in many areas of your life?

Just be yourself! Stay with two feet on the ground. I think that’s the most important.

Andy, Canada: The 2024 Sao Paulo race was the gutsiest thing I have seen with you racing in the rain. What was going through your mind with almost zero visibility at those speeds? My teeth hurt from clenching when I watched it. Best race I have ever seen…

Well, I mean, I had another race in Sao Paulo in 2016 that was probably… I would say even worse in terms of visibility at times. But yeah, it’s just… You’ve practiced a lot in your life driving in the wet in general, like racing in the rain. Yeah, the visibility at times is not great, but it’s the same for everyone, so you just have to deal with it. But for sure it was an insane race, and for me at the time, of course, a very important one to win.

Alexandra, Ukraine: Which F1 driver would you trust the most to babysit your cats?

Probably Alex Albon, because he has cats himself, like quite a few, so he definitely knows what to do!

Evan, Norway: What’s a hobby you've picked up that surprised you?

Well, I started playing padel like a few years ago now. I never really played any kind of racket sport before, so I didn’t know that that was on the horizon, but I enjoy it a lot.

Nancy, Canada: What is the best part of being a new dad?

The best part… I mean, just spending time with her and seeing her grow, seeing that it’s your little girl. That’s definitely the best part of it.

Nia Anand, Singapore: If all the F1 drivers on the grid were stuck in an airport overnight, who would solve the problem? Who would make it worse? And where would you be?

Well, who would solve the problem… I would solve the problem! Who would it make it worse? Who would make it worse, my God… Let’s just not get stuck in the airport, probably. I don’t know. I have no idea who would actually make it worse, because when you’re stuck in an airport that’s already, I guess, ‘worse’ enough. I don’t know what can be worse. If you’re stuck in an airport, what can you make worse? And where would I be? Where would I be? Well, stuck at the airport!

Robert, UK: If you were not racing in any form of motorsport, what would you be doing for a job?

I would still, I think, work in motorsport, but probably more in like a manager role or trying to just advise young talents – if I wouldn’t have succeeded in F1.

Lia, Ukraine: Looking back on your first 249 Grands Prix, which race taught you the biggest lesson?

It’s hard to pinpoint. I mean, to pick out one specific race, it’s just… Life, I guess, is a lesson, your career as well, your races, good and bad. You learn from every single race, some a little bit more than others. I think it’s just taking the general experience, and that probably makes you a better driver. It’s hard to just pick one particular race.

Cian, Ireland: If F1 had two-seater cars, who are you bringing into the cockpit and why?

Probably family members, friends… close friends and family members. I would not just take one person.

Verena, the Netherlands: What are some important values you have and live by, that help you be as successful as you are in F1 and in life?

Trying to live it as relaxed as possible, not really caring too much about stuff, social media… Just live your life normally, happy, with the people that you want to live it with. Try to keep it just very simple: keep life very simple.

Jaquavius, Brazil: What is your favourite food?

Good name! Tomato soup and beef carpaccio.

Ava, Australia: Which driver has challenged you the most in your career, on and off the track?

Which driver? It’s hard. It’s hard to pick one. I mean, in F1, of course, you have a lot of great drivers. I had a lot great team mates in go-karting. You learn from all of your team mates, for example, over your career… different things. I think it’s just the general experience of having your team mates challenge you, other drivers challenge you. It’s hard to just pick one particular person, I would say.

Prathik, India: Do you miss being Daniel Ricciardo’s team mate?

Yeah, well, I miss my times with Daniel, for sure. He’s a great guy. Sometimes we still catch up a little bit. Yeah, looking back at it, it was definitely a really fun period of my career also, with him. It’s definitely… When we see each other, we talk about it and have a good laugh.

Mina, Slovenia: What’s your favourite way to relax after a race weekend?

My favourite way to relax is probably just going home and spending time with my family, with the kids, just not thinking about racing too much.

Ibrahim, Australia: Have you ever lost hope at a certain point in your career? And if you have, how did you handle it?

No, I’ve not lost hope. I mean, you just need to keep trying to work towards your goal, and it’s not always an upwards trend or like a straight line. If you’re very passionate about what you do, and you love what you’re doing, you just keep going at it, and some days are better than others.

Alice, Czech Republic: What do you want your legacy to be?

Uhm, what do I want my legacy to be? As long as, I think, people can remember me as just being honest, straightforward, and always being myself, not trying to act like a different person suddenly… For me, that’s the most important, just to be remembered exactly like I am.

Joseph, USA: If you could have dinner with any F1 legend to discuss the sport or life, who would it be?

I never really had those kind of things [wishes]. I don’t want to meet anyone famous. I just want to spend time with my friends and family when I can, and that will be the best dinner anyway! Just with the people that you love, you have a great time, you laugh a lot, so I never really had the urge or desire to have dinner with someone that I don’t know.

Dana, Belgium: If you could say something to your little ‘you’ (when you were a child), what would you say?

I would say nothing. I would just let him live his life, experience the good things, the bad things, because at the end of the day, it all helps you to become a better driver, a better person. If you know everything in advance, probably life is very boring...

Maka Penny, Peru: Outside of the racing world, what’s something you still hope to achieve or build in your lifetime?

Travel the world more, spend time with my family and friends. It’s not really about achieving or building, it’s actually spending time with the people that you miss a lot throughout your F1 career.

Arek, Poland: If you could freely choose (from both current and past) one track, one car and one opponent to race against, what and who would you pick?

Spa, early 2000s F1 cars, maybe like 2004, and my dad.

Azra, Cyprus: What was your childhood nickname, if you had any?

I didn’t have any, because my name is nice and short! Max is very easy.