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FIA race director shares anecdote about Verstappen fans: 'I get that a lot!'

20:00, 17 Aug

Updated: 20:37, 17 Aug

byEstéban den Toom

Claire Dubbelman, Dutch race director of the FIA in Formula 1, frequently encounters Max Verstappen fans on the flight back to the Netherlands. This is how Dubbelman addresses potential criticism of the governing body's policies during the race.

Race directors' decisions can sometimes go down poorly with the drivers behind the wheel and their fans. Dubbelman regularly encounters Verstappen fans on the plane back from a Formula 1 Grand Prix. She does not shy away from an informed opinion about the decision. This is what she had to say about her role at the FIA.

Dubbelman on encountering Verstappen fans en route to Amsterdam

"It's a very public position. I'm Dutch, I'm often on a plane after a race back to Amsterdam, and I can guarantee you it's usually full of Max Verstappen fans. When we have taken a decision that has not been very advantageous for Max, obviously, those Dutch fans have a very strong opinion about it, so I still get that quite a lot," the FIA race director told the BBC's Chequered Flag podcast.

Dubbelman also explains that she understands accumulated criticism and is open to it. "I think being able to look at things objectively, but to be able to judge whether people just act out of emotion, it's really rarely that they disagree on the content of something. A really big part of it is the emotion that comes with these decisions."

"At the same time, if somebody has read the regulations, has an informed opinion about a certain situation, then I'm always happy to listen to them."