Max Verstappen’s recent speeding incident on the A8 motorway in France has been captured on video.
The footage, taken by Mark Cox, a friend of the Red Bull driver, depicts Verstappen behind the wheel of the Adrian Newey-designed Valkyrie supercar, clocking 124 km/h in a 90 km/h speed zone.
“Own goal for Max Verstappen,” Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reported, referring to the reigning world championship leader and Red Bull driver.
“While it’s not an outrageously excessive speed, it’s not a favourable image for F1 drivers, who are also ambassadors for the FIA and its road safety campaigns,” the newspaper noted.
Adding to the concern, the newspaper pointed out, “Apart from the speeding, Verstappen operates the steering wheel with one hand while using the display with the other.”
Before this incident occurred, the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf asked the 25-year-old driver whether, amidst his ongoing dominance, he might need a wake-up call to prevent complacency.
“No, I don’t believe so,” Verstappen responded. “As a team, we’re in a very positive and productive rhythm this season. The exceptional speed of the car certainly aids in keeping myself motivated every weekend.
“I’ve also achieved significant victories in karting, where even a small mistake could be crucial. During that time, I occasionally required a push to remain focused, as there were instances when I wasn’t fully alert during practice sessions.
“However, over the years, I’ve learned to manage it better,” Verstappen concluded.
