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The Lego car drivers’ parade at last year’s Miami Grand Prix was one of the season’s highlights, as it showed Formula 1 drivers letting their hair down and having fun before putting their helmets on and switching to race mode. For Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, however, that may have been too much fun.
During this weekend’s British Grand Prix, where another Lego drivers’ parade is set to take place Sunday, the four-time champ told the media that it’s just not the right look. And that, despite the photo of a smiling Verstappen you see above, he’d rather play with Lego sets “at home.”
“At the end of the day, we are Formula 1 drivers, I think we should not look like kids and clowns trying to ram into each other,” said Verstappen, according to Motorsport.com. “I don’t think that is what Formula 1 needs, but it is what it is.”
Hector Vivas via Getty
This year’s Lego cars will contain the same 28,000 bricks as last year’s, but the new 2.0 version looks, uh, more robust and considerably smaller. Having seen these up close earlier today, there’s now a rental-kart-style bumper around the cars—probably because most drivers, including Max, busted them to pieces while horsing around last year, spreading Lego pieces all over the track.
To help with the shenanigans, this year each driver will get their own car rather than one per team, so maybe some drivers will choose to engage in a bit of horseplay, or they’ll just reach for that 15.5 mph top speed and book it to the finish line. Either way, and I’m speaking for myself here, it will be a fun little spectacle to witness whether you’re attending the race in person or watching on TV. As for Verstappen, he’d prefer to stand on a livestock trailer and be hauled around the track.
“I prefer to play with Lego at home, you know, with the kids. Not on a go-kart here, to be honest,” said Verstappen per the outlet. “I prefer to stand on a truck, just with everyone together. I think that’s more fun and I think it also looks more professional.”
Per the report, Lewis Hamilton isn’t a fan of the Lego car parade lap either, though no specific reason was given. Reigning champion Lando Norris is down to clown, telling the media during the FIA press conference that he’s looking forward to it.
“I’m pretty excited for it, actually!” said Norris. “If it’s like Miami, then I think whoever can make it back to the start line will be a winner already. I think it’s a cool thing to do. It’s different.
“Obviously you’re all together and you can have a little chitchat and see the fans when you’re on the truck, but I think it’s nice to do something different every now and then. So as long as it’s safe and we all behave, which we shall, then it will be a jolly good ride,” said Norris per Motorsport.com.
Is Verstappen being a sourpuss, or is he onto something here?
As deputy editor, Jerry draws on a decade of industry experience and a lifelong passion for motorsports to guide The Drive’s short- and long-term coverage.
