The Lego Car Drivers’ Parade at last year’s Miami Grand Prix was one of the highlights of the season, as it featured Formula 1 drivers letting their hair down and having fun before putting on their helmets and going into race mode. However, that could be the case for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen Very Lots of fun.
During this weekend’s British Grand Prix, where another Lego drivers’ parade is set to take place on Sunday, the four-time champion told the media it was not the right look. And that, despite the photo of a smiling Verstappen you see above, he would rather play with Lego sets “at home”.
“At the end of the day, we are Formula 1 drivers, I think we shouldn’t look like kids and clowns trying to bump into each other,” Verstappen said. motorsport.com. “I don’t think Formula 1 needs it, but it is what it is.”
This year’s Lego Cars will have the same 28,000 bricks as last year, but the new 2.0 version looks, uh, sturdier and significantly smaller. After taking a closer look at these earlier today, the cars now have a rental-kart-style bumper around them – probably because most of the drivers, including Max, tore them to pieces while riding last year, leaving Lego pieces scattered all over the track.
To help deal with the tricks, this year each driver will get their own car rather than one per team, so it may be that some drivers will prefer to engage in a bit of horse racing, or they will simply reach a top speed of 15.5 mph and book it to the finish line. Either way, and I’m speaking for myself here, this will be a fun little spectacle to watch whether you’re attending the race in person or watching on TV. As for Verstappen, he would rather stand on a livestock trailer and be pulled around the track.
“I like to play with Lego at home, you know, with the kids. Not here on the go-karts, to be honest,” Verstappen said, according to the outlet. “I like to stand on a truck, just with everybody. I think it’s more fun and I think it looks more professional too.”
Lewis Hamilton is not a fan of the Lego car parade lap, according to reports, although no specific reason has been given. Reigning champion Lando Norris is set to become the Joker, telling the media during an FIA press conference that he is looking forward to it.
“Actually, I’m very excited about it!” Norris said. “If it’s like Miami, I think whoever can make it back to the starting line will already be the winner. I think it’s a good thing to do. It’s different.
“Obviously you’re all together and when you’re on the truck you can interact a little bit and see the fans, but I think it’s good to do something different every now and then. So as long as it’s safe and we all behave as we would, it’ll be a good ride,” Norris said. Per motorsport.com.
Is Verstappen a sour person, or is he on to something here?
