mobile app bar

“It Can Upset People”: Calum Nicholas on the Double-Edged Sword of Max Verstappen’s Honesty

Vidit Dhawan
Published

FIA AWARDS CEREMONY 2024 VERSTAPPEN Max, Red Bull Racing, FIA Formula 1, portrait during the 2024 FIA Awards Ceremony, on December 13, 2024 at BK Arena, in Kigali, Rwanda

The phrase “the truth hurts” is widely used, and it couldn’t be more fitting for Max Verstappen, who is known for his brutal honesty. The Dutchman has often stated that he speaks his mind and refuses to put on a facade in front of the camera, even if his words may be harsh.

Most drivers hesitate to be completely honest on controversial topics, fearing the impact on their public image.

Verstappen, however, doesn’t share that concern. The four-time champion has made it clear that winning is all that matters to him. “I take the trophy home and they go back to their houses and they can have a nice evening,” Verstappen said back in 2023 when he was being booed at the Miami GP.

Not many appreciate his strong diction. However, Red Bull Senior Technician Calum Nicholas believes this honesty is what makes Verstappen unique and authentic.

He is very much just a normal guy that wants to get on with a job. And I don’t know…it’s refreshing. I’ve always found it refreshing; I like his honesty,” Nicholas said on the High Performance podcast. “I know it can upset people and people expect like these sort of PR-scored answers from drivers I think“.

Verstappen is not particularly rude, but when things don’t go his way, he doesn’t mince his words. This has been especially evident when his car underperforms—such as at the 2024 Hungarian GP, where he lashed out at his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, over the car’s poor balance.

Some may question why Verstappen sometimes gives harsh responses to his team over the radio—the same people helping him win races. Nicholas had an explanation for that as well.

Is Verstappen mean to his Red Bull team members?

With a strong car beneath him in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Verstappen often praised his Red Bull team for their efforts.

However, as he struggled with the RB20’s balance last season, his frustrations were frequently heard over the team radio—a behavior some fans labeled as ungrateful.

But Nicholas and the other Red Bull team members never believe that Verstappen is being mean to them when he expresses his frustrations.

I think the important thing to remember is that they are operating in that window where, you know, they’re under a great deal of pressure,” Nicholas told talkSPORT to explain the stresses that the drivers feel when they are in the cockpit. “We never sit in our garage and think to ourselves, ‘he’s being mean to us’”. 

For Red Bull, the priority is seeing their drivers deliver results on track. As long as Verstappen does that, they are unlikely to take issue with his demeanor—even if it means occasionally bearing the brunt of his frustration.

Post Edited By:Somin Bhattacharjee

About the author

Vidit Dhawan

Vidit Dhawan

x-icon

Vidit Dhawan, a Formula 1 Editor at The SportsRush, is intrinsically connected with everything around the sport — from the engine roar, the cacophony on the grandstands to the action. He fell in love with F1 during the inaugural Indian GP in 2011. After more than a decade of deep engagement with the sport, Vidit insists he will remain a lifelong fan of Fernando Alonso, and sees the future of F1 in Charles Leclerc. A sports fanatic from childhood, he discovered his passion for writing while pursuing a bachelor's degree in international and global studies. Vidit has written over 1,700 articles, ranging from news reports to opinions. He thrives covering live action, and loves to dig into the contrasting personalities in the F1 bandwagon and narrate their journey in life as well as the sport. Vidit also follows tennis and football, enjoys playing as well as coaching chess.

Share this article