Max Verstappen seemed to send a message to Red Bull

Verstappen Uses Famous Senna Quote as Defense with FIA Stewards

14:20, 30 Jul

byNicole Mulder

Max Verstappen has – with a wink - admitted that he has used the famous words of Ayrton Senna in his defense to the stewards. The four-time world champion spoke with presenter Chris Harris in a video on Ford Performance's YouTube channel.

Verstappen issues famous Senna quote with stewards

In the video, Verstappen drives a Ford Mustang GTD among other things and talks about driving at the limit – something he believes is partly learnable but mostly requires trust and instinct. When the famous quote by Ayrton Senna is brought up – “If you don't go for a gap that exists, you’re no longer a racing driver” - Verstappen acknowledges how poignant those words are.

In fact, he says he has used the famous quote himself. “Sometimes you can still use that argument into the steward's office as well,” he says with a grin.

Whether he has actually said those words in the office of the FIA officials? “Of course,” laughs Verstappen.

Max Verstappen | Red Bull Content Pool

Verstappen on Interlagos 2016: '50 percent luck'

The conversation also addresses his iconic save at Interlagos in 2016, when he went spun around in the pouring rain, but miraculously managed to save it and keep his F1 car off the guardrail.

An impressive act by the Dutchman, who was only in his second year of Formula 1 at the time. However, he admits that there was also some luck involved.

“Honestly, for me, that one was like 50-50, luck [and] skills,” says Verstappen. “Because you need to have the luck, and because there's a bit of banking in that corner."

"So I spun, and then when I spun, luckily the front started to come back, back towards the right, basically."

"So as soon as I felt it was coming back, I knew that just before the barrier, if you release the brakes, then you get the rolling speed of the tyre, and you have a bit more of a drag.”