Chilled to the Max: Verstappen works the room during…

For a man aiming to claim a fifth consecutive F1 drivers' title and having received a mixed reception during the livery launch event in London, Max Verstappen did not appear to have a care in the world as he spoke to the media on Thursday.

The Red Bull racer lounged on the press conference sofa, next to 2024 title rival Lando Norris, arm draped over the back of the seating, microphone placed alongside him until he felt he needed to contribute to the session during pre-season testing in Bahrain.

After talking about his first run in the RB21, he faced questions from the gathered journalists and made the most of giving them as little as possible.

First of all, he brushed off a question about the jeering of himself and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner at the F1 75 event – with Horner himself saying a day earlier he had been “disappointed” at the reception for Verstappen.

The man himself, though, had a different approach: “There was any booing? Maybe I'm deaf. I don't need to really talk about it. It's not worth my time,” he said.

Next up, what did Verstappen make of the 2026 Pirelli tyres? “They are round,” was his playful retort as he and Norris chuckled away like naughty schoolboys.

Maybe another question related to car performance would garner a serious answer from Verstappen?

“Well, I mean, it can't be worse than last year,” he said, before adding the much trotted out caveat that, given this is pre-season testing, it is still “early days”.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images)

Asked to expand on how Red Bull’s 2025 challenger is less unpredictable to drive, the Dutchman was not ready to offer up a technical briefing.

“Everywhere. And it's just improved everywhere compared to last year. I don't want to go too much in detail. It's not necessary. We keep that for ourselves. But yeah, let's see. I mean, I've done half a day. So there's a lot to analyse also. But it's positive,” he replied.

Next up, another attempt to discuss F1 75 and, after fellow drivers Jack Doohan, Charles Leclerc and Alex Albon had given their opinion, Verstappen had another tongue-in-cheek response: “It was absolutely fantastic,” he said, as the room burst into a collective chuckle.

Perhaps the highlight, though, was saved for last as he and Norris bantered back and forth after a question over their friendship, which was strained at times during the 2024 title battle.

For saying at times last year Verstappen flatly refused to answer questions in the official press conference, it was refreshing to see him in a light-hearted mood, still engaging with the media – but it is a trope that could wear thin quickly once the real racing gets under way.