via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 12, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race and the world championship with the Netherlands flag on the podium as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton looks dejected after finishing second REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 12, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race and the world championship with the Netherlands flag on the podium as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton looks dejected after finishing second REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Formula 1 is super competitive. Naturally, Formula 1 drivers are dialed in to never give an inch. Last year, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had a battle for ages for the World Drivers’ Championship. This year, however, Verstappen is a clear favorite to win the Championship while Hamilton languishes lower down the ranks.
Even off-track, sometimes, they compete for similar parts of the proverbial tarmac.
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Recently, Max Verstappen was given a royal honor. He was appointed an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau, bestowed by the Dutch royal family. Fans were obviously happy for Verstappen and couldn’t help but compare this with Lewis Hamilton‘s knighthood.
Fans react and compare as Max Verstappen gets knighted the Dutch way
As the news dropped yesterday, fans were quick to hop onto their Twitter accounts to discuss and deliberate on this. Many fans took to the social media platform to shower praise on the Dutchman.
Officer Max Verstappen pic.twitter.com/yPTBjn9vkb
— Officer Max Verstappen (@HonestLewLewFan) September 1, 2022
Max is an officer now, appointed by the dutch royal family?
Pretty sure that means he is Sir Max Verstappen from now on. Please do not mis pronounce his name, refer to him as sir
— Steady¹ (@F1_Steady) September 1, 2022
Meet Sir Max Verstappen 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/cMWxSKh3Aq
— 9live #MV1𓃵 (@brawngpf1team) September 1, 2022
No big deal just Sir Officer Max Verstappen being escorted to the track pic.twitter.com/86WFZyTyIJ
— A PROUD KELLY PIQUET FAN 🇮🇪 (@DanneelMisha) September 1, 2022
Formula 1 fans definitely did not disappoint with this farrago of supportive yet unimaginably funny Tweets to congratulate the defending Formula 1 World Champion on this latest achievement.
i love officer sir baron king captain boss prince nobleman lord colonel max verstappen pic.twitter.com/YAaCPiHJJq
— rachel (@01verstappen) September 1, 2022
who is Officer Max Verstappen❓
in math: my solution ➗
in arts: my inspiration 🎨
in dutch: my SIR 👑
in spanish: my taco 🌮
in french: my baguette 🥖
in german: mein führer 🙏🏻
in f1: my goat 🐐— 9live #MV1𓃵 (@brawngpf1team) September 1, 2022
However, controversy and comparison are never too far away when it comes to Formula 1. Many fans on Twitter were quick to compare this accolade received by Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton’s knighthood. The results were admittedly hilarious.
Lol, even in knighthood @Max33Verstappen outrank @LewisHamilton, he was just promoted from knight to officer, 1 grade higher then a knight, by the king 🤴 🤣 @F1
Verstappen benoemd tot officier in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau https://t.co/nvYcaykL6t (via @NUnl)
— Constant Sciarone (@CSciarone) September 1, 2022
Officier Max Verstappen > Sir Lewis Hamilton https://t.co/6FICPmLqm2
— Président du FC Pourchaire (@Vettel_spiiiiin) September 1, 2022
Max Verstappen you can win all the titles but you’ll never be a Sir
— MERC (@mercedesintern) September 1, 2022
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Lewis will always do it better 🫡 pic.twitter.com/DCL78oZVUL
— Amani (@f1amani) September 1, 2022
This seems like a timely bit of announcement as the Dutch Grand Prix starts this weekend. Max Verstappen holds a solid lead coming into his home race that he had won comfortably last year. There is no doubt that this would act as an extra bit of motivation for him to do well, not that he needed any in the first place.
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Watch This Story: In Pictures: Max Verstappen & Co Wrap Up Relaxing Summer Break With Fresh Motivations
The Zandvoort circuit is infamous for its difficulty to overtake. However, with this year’s regulations, cars can follow more closely. Can Max Verstappen take pole and run away with another victory this season? Or does he get trapped inadvertently in a DRS train and lose a bit of ground in the Championship? Let us know what you think will happen at the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix in the comments below.
