Max Verstappen's former performance coach Brad Scans reveals what the world champion's inner life is like on the latest episode of the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.
Scannes spent four seasons with Verstappen at Red Bull, winning the driver's title in the last three, before leaving his position at the end of 2023.
UK-based Scans explained how sharing the same mindset with Verstappen, the driver's father Jos and business manager Raymond Vermeulen helped him integrate quickly into the group.
“I think it's just a clearer view,” Scans said. “We were all there to accomplish the same thing. We were all there to win the world championship and get Max on that path. But at the same time, we were there to have fun. I was able to spend some time there.”
“They're also a very open and honest group, which suits the way I like to work as well. So if someone is unhappy about something, nothing goes unsaid. .We solve it on the spot. When you make a mistake, you come into the house and say, “Sorry, I made a mistake.” And if you need to talk about it, talk about it, or say, “Yes, that’s fine,” and move on from there.
“The clarity of vision, the communication, and the openness and honesty. And for me, that was really great because I was really part of the family. They celebrated my birthday while I was in Monaco. He invited me to things like, “That's what I would do.”Be around him or I'd go out to dinner with his manager or have a beer with his dad. Same thing without him.
Max Verstappen's former physio and fitness coach Brad Scanes does not believe the Red Bull driver will stay in F1 as long as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are around.
“You can't overlook that being a big part of his success as well. And he also has a very tight team of engineers around him, so that group can expand as well. So his race engineer , his performance fits in the same way as “Engineer''.
“On race weekends, it would be Max, his dad, his manager, me, the race engineer, the performance engineer and we would go out to dinner and it would be a tight group like that. So it works really well and I I think that's a big part of our success and I think he'll continue to be successful. ”
Verstappen played 'a little mind game' with Hamilton
Verstappen's first drivers' title came in the most intense and dramatic circumstances of 2021, coming out on top in a thrilling battle with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The fierce battle continued until the final race of the season, when a controversial race director decision gave Verstappen the opportunity to pass Hamilton on the final lap, resulting in Verstappen winning.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Max Verstappen's former physio and fitness coach Brad Scans revealed just how many racing suits the Red Bull driver needs on a race weekend.
Scannes looked back on the fight and explained how “mind games” naturally worked their way into the feud between Verstappen and Hamilton.
“As someone who works in sports and works in sports, I think I was very fortunate to be a part of that season,” Scanes said. “We witnessed two of the best go toe-to-toe, and opportunities like that don't come often.
“It's the little things they try and do to get past each other. It's who can take the most time to prepare and spend the most time in the post-race cool-down room. And those There's a little head game these two were playing with each other.
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“If you think back to when I used to play football, I was in central defense and if I had a really good striker I would give him a little elbow or tug on his shirt a little.” Step on his toes a little bit. Little things like that happen. So there were a lot of conversations about race strategy and things like that. But little things like that just kind of come along. is.”
“And you see it at its best when you're in contention for a title. Little things like that always come. I'm a football fan, so I think back to the football analogy, but I think back to the great years. I want him to do that.'' When Man United and Arsenal played, or when[Jose]Mourinho played Real Madrid against Barcelona, the comments in the media, the mind games, the touchline stuff. There was something similar to that.”
Does Verstappen play PlayStation between F1 sessions?
Verstappen has a reputation for enjoying video games, and the 26-year-old is a regular player in the ever-growing field of virtual motorsport competition.
He is also known to enjoy playing the soccer game FIFA (now known as EA FC) and may be using the console to relax between F1 sessions on the track. There was also speculation.
“It's a bit of a myth that it was before or during the session,” Scans explained. “We had never used a PlayStation or anything like that on the circuit.
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“It was like going back and playing in the evenings. It could be FIFA, it could be Call of Duty, it could be virtual racing. But it turned him off and he was down. It was a way to get time and spend time with friends because they're there too, and there's no way that could go unnoticed because we're apart.”
“We're in a hotel room and for the last two years, Max hasn't been able to go out, he hasn't even been able to go out to dinner or anything like that. It's just not possible because of the fans and all the hype around him. Yes, and it's very difficult.
“So having the ability to take down time and think about something else while also communicating with friends is how successful he is at switching off and then getting back on track. So it probably won't go unnoticed.''Okay, we're back in something like F1. ” I think that’s very, very important. ”
“We played a few times and lost a few times. It took me three years to beat him, but I finally did. I was actually on a plane trip. I finally got one win. I definitely celebrated. .”
Sky Sports F1 Japanese GP live schedule
Thursday, April 4th
4:30am: Driver press conference
Friday, April 5th
3:00am: Japanese GP Practice 1 (Session starts at 3:30am)*
6:45am: Japanese GP Practice 2 (session starts at 7am)*
8:15am: F1 Show*
10am: Japanese GP Practice 1 Replay
11:30am: Japanese GP Practice 2 Replay
A look back at the most exciting title battles at the Japanese Grand Prix
Saturday, April 6th
3:15am: Japanese GP Practice 3 (session starts at 3:30am)*
6am: Japanese GP qualifying build-up*
7am: Japanese GP Qualifying*
9am: Ted's Qualification Notebook*
9:30am: Japanese GP qualifying replay
Sunday, April 7th
5am: Grand Prix Sunday Japanese GP Build-up*
6am: Japanese Grand Prix*
8am: Checkered flag: Japanese GP reaction*
9am: Ted's Notes*
9:30am: Japanese Grand Prix Highlights*
10:30am: Japanese Grand Prix Replay
*The main event will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports
The biggest season in F1 history continues with the Japanese Grand Prix, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month membership – cancel anytime with no contract
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