“Not Sitting Behind Like a Grandma”: Golden Child Max Verstappen Once Snubbed Red Bull’s Demands to Shake the Power Dynamics

Known for his on-track aggression and superior overtakes, Max Verstappen indeed is a very special talent. The man from the Netherlands has often won races from positions nobody thought he would win. On one such occasion, Red Bull’s golden child Verstappen snubbed higher orders to take what’s his, the ultimate victory.

Shaking the power dynamics, the Dutchman once fought valiantly against seven-time world champion Mercedes to home the victory. During the 70th Anniversary race in Silverstone in 2020, the Red Bull ace went against all odds to cross the finish line before anyone else.

Unwilling to sit like an old lady and listen to Red Bull directives, the then 22-year-old stated on the radio, “Mate, this is the only chance of being close to the Mercedes.” Verstappen then shared as he was pushing for the win, “I’m not just sitting behind like a grandma.”

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As Red Bull warned the Dutchman on his tires, there were reasons why the former Toro Rosso driver was reluctant to listen to the calls. Just a race prior to the 70th Anniversary race in Silverstone, Verstappen missed the win just by 5 seconds. As the Red Bull driver went for freshers tires in the pit, he couldn’t catch Hamilton, who limped his way home and saved his day.

How did Max Verstappen pull off the win against all odds?

Max Verstappen started the race from P3 behind the two Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton. Bottas was leading the race from Hamilton. Verstappen was just behind Hamilton and was closing in on the DRS.

However, during Lap 11, Verstappen’s engineer warned him of tire degradation. Silverstone in 2020 had extreme temperature issues as Hamilton, Bottas, and Sainz all suffered tire failures just a race before.

Verstappen, unwilling to listen to the directive to take care of his tires, pushed all in behind the two Mercedes. Meanwhile, the two Silver Arrows pitted to save themselves from facing the same issues they faced in their very last race at the same venue in 2020.

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Verstappen ultimately pitted on Lap 27, as he extracted enough time to keep both the Mercedes at bay. Ultimately, with better tire management and strategy, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the chequered flag to take home the ninth win of his career.