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How 2-time World Champion Max Verstappen stays fit during winter break

Tejas Venkatesh
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How 2-time World Champion Max Verstappen stays fit during winter break

Max Verstappen winded up the 2022 season with a win at Abu Dhabi taking his total wins this season to 15. The 2022 season is over and we have 80 days to spare until the first race of the 2023 calendar in Bahrain.

Right now the drivers are all enjoying their winter break with family and friends. Some are on holiday while some would be resting in the comfort of their homes after racing hard for the entire season.

 

Verstappen will be ready to grab his 3rd F1 championship title after winning 2 already. But to be the best performing driver, one must be in top shape even during the winter break.

Also Read: “Struggling to stay in full throttle”: Max Verstappen talks about ‘cramp’ which nearly cost him his 2021 World Championship win

What does Max Verstappen do to stay fit?

Max Verstappen is the fastest driver in the current F1 grid. But even the Dutchman has to focus on building strength and keeping up in good shape throughout the off-season.

F1 drivers go through an intense season and they must be in peak conditioning to battle the extreme G-forces. And for this, each driver has a customised workout routine tailored to their fitness goals.

The Red Bull driver says F1 drivers put emphasis on their neck, lower back and core strengths. This is because as a car turns, all the G-forces put pressure on these parts.

Verstappen prefers doing more cardio than strength training exercises. He says “I do a lot of running. I think I am a bit lucky because if I don’t do that for a week, I am not losing a lot of muscle mass.”

F1 drivers don’t do a lot of weight like Barbell exercises as they don’t intend to put in a lot of Muscle mass. Regardless, the Dutchman performs resistance bands and body weight exercises.

The 2-time World Champion says he also enjoys playing other sports to keep fit. But claims when drivers jump back in their cars after the break during pre-season testing, the necks are always sore and stiff.

Also Read: “I won’t push my kids to race” – Max Verstappen reveals he would choose a different approach than his father

What is Max Verstappen’s diet?

F1 drivers have nutritionists assigned to help them stay at their ideal weight. The driver’s personal chefs aid them in hitting their macros while also making their meals taste better.

Max Verstappen too has a coach assigned. But the Red Bull driver claims he does often have a problem sticking to his weight and diet.

Verstappen claims, “In the off-season, if I gain a little weight, I feel a bit heavier during training.” But the Dutchman says he uses this as a source of motivation to get back in shape for the next season.

Verstappen’s favourite dishes are  ‘Stamppot’, a traditional Dutch dish made with mashed potatoes and vegetables served with smoked sausage. He also loves ‘Frikandel’, a popular snack similar to minced sausage along with toppings.

Max doesn’t drink tea and coffee nor does he like having breakfast. He is not a regular snacker and also loves his mom Sophia Kumpen’s home-cooked food.

Also Read: Max Verstappen doesn’t find his $14 million car comfortable at all

About the author

Tejas Venkatesh

Tejas Venkatesh

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Tejas Venkatesh is a Motorsports writer at The SportsRush. He started watching F1 in 2007 and fell in love with the sound of the revving V8s. A technical nerd, tejas loves to nerd over the technical beauty only motorsports can achieve. He calls himself a Vettel fanboy and spent the night crying after Hockenheim 2018. Apart from F1, Tejas is an avid Chelsea Fan and loves football.

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