Max Verstappen can’t be stopped!
Ahead of capturing his fourth world championship after winning the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix on Saturday, Nov. 24, the Red Bull Racing driver spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about his pre-race routine and what drives him to succeed on the grid.
With a record 24 races on the F1 schedule, taking place in 21 countries on five continents this year, different time zones and jet lag are obstacles that professional drivers must take into account in their preparations before take-off – in addition to their training, mechanic meetings and on-track commitments. race day.
For Verstappen, that means waking up at noon. “You go to sleep at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning just because of the time zone differences,” the 27-year-old world champion told PEOPLE exclusively at the Red Bull Energy Station in Las Vegas hours before the tournament began. race. – But everything is fine.
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F1 World Drivers’ Champion Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates with his team in the Paddock after the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
Mark Thompson/Getty
The Dutch-Belgian athlete, who made his debut in Formula 1 in 2015 at the age of 17, has a shortened sleeping schedule, but the fight against jet lag is not the easiest. “It’s difficult,” Verstappen admitted.
“I mean, always for me, I struggle to sleep. Make sure the room is very dark,” he continued. “Communicate with friends or family a little bit and make sure you stay awake, things like that.”
Sleep aside, fuel from food is just as important to fueling athletes on race day (and yes, it involves more than Red Bull energy drinks!). But when he gasses his vehicle up to about 200+ mph mixed with sharp turns as he races down the Las Vegas strip, his meal of choice is strategy.
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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen drives on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
Clive Mason/Getty
“Well before the race, it’s pretty boring,” Verstappen says of what’s on the menu before he gets behind the wheel. “It’s like chicken, rice, nothing too crazy to upset your stomach,” he explained, adding that he’s “not at all” superstitious about any pre-race routine.
When asked how he plans to celebrate if he wins the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen’s response seemed almost too cold for the star who will be crowned Formula 1 world champion for the fourth time.
“Otherwise I don’t like to think about it too much and I just let it go and see what happens,” he said ahead of the race. Fast forward a few hours later, Verstappen was showered with champagne as he celebrated his achievements with his team at the Red Bull Energy Station later that night.
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Max Verstappen prepares for a drive in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
Mark Thompson/Getty
While Verstappen doesn’t necessarily like to think about winning and prefers to focus on the moment, Red Bull already has its sights set on a winning future as it announced its new strategic partnership with Ford Performance for the 2026 Formula 1 season and beyond.
The partnership is literally exciting as Red Bull and the iconic American carmaker are working to build a next-generation hybrid powertrain, formerly known as Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
The 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix wasn’t just full of adrenaline, it was also star-studded as the biggest names in pop culture came out for one of the biggest nights in professional racing. Brad Pitt, Jared Leto, Sylvester Stallone and Paris Hilton were among the celebrities in attendance.
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The Oracle Red Bull Racing team are celebrating after Dutchman Max Verstappen was crowned 2024 F1 World Champion following the F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas.
Mark Thompson/Getty
Before the start of the race, Frankie Muniz teamed up with Ford Performance and Pirelli for hot laps around the famous Las Vegas Strip. The actor began racing in 2004, began his professional career in 2006 and is running full-time in the 2025 season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Seth Rogan, Mr. Beast, Winnie Harlow and Terry Cruz also prepared for a hot lap, while Alex Rodriguez, Gordon Ramsay and other stars took a walk in the pits before the race. Adele and Paul Wesley, meanwhile, were among the celebrities who posed for photos with the F1 team’s garages.
Back at the Red Bull Energy Station, chart-topping DJs took to the stage to provide the sounds of the night. Zedd brought the energy on Friday night, while Deadmau5 performed on Saturday before and after Verstappen’s win, complete with fireworks to close out the Vegas win.
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Source: HIS Education