Max Verstappen talks to the media in the Paddock after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi - Qualifying - Source: Getty
World Drivers' Champion Max Verstappen spoke about the changing perspective on where racing drivers can come from to join the mostly English-based Formula 1. The driver, who was born in Belgium, but races under the Dutch flag, discussed how a driver who is not from a typical racing country has also started to become noticed now, a change he himself has noted.
The four-time champion, in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, discussed a variety of topics, including how it's difficult to rise through the ranks of the racing world when you don't come from a country that is racing-dominated. However, the driver said that is slowly becoming not true:
"As a Dutchman, you weren't really taken seriously for a long time. If you look at the dominant countries in car racing; we weren't among them. That is changing now. Look, Formula 1 is an English-oriented sport and in terms of media and things like that, you are in the minority. But in terms of drivers, it is increasingly being noticed that very good drivers can also come from the Netherlands and not just from the standard racing countries."
