“The more trouble, the faster Max drives,” Jos Verstappen jokingly remarked after yesterday’s qualification. But does this hold true for all drivers? Does anger fuel speed? A quick survey in the Austrian paddock yields a variety of responses.
First up, David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver who clinched 13 Grand Prix victories in his career. “No, that wasn’t the case for me. You know, I’ve won races while angry and races while just being myself.” Then, Norbert Vettel, father of four-time world champion Sebastian. Does his son drive faster when he’s angry? “I do think that as a driver, you drive faster when you’re angry, especially during qualification. You have to perform in that one round and fully focus, blocking out everything around you. If you get a bit angry, you squeeze everything out.”
Alexander Wurz, the Austrian driver with 69 Grand Prix to his name, is certain that it works to your advantage. “It definitely worked for me, it’s a wonderful feeling. You get into full focus and drop all the noise around you. For me, that was the recipe to go extra fast.” Wurz shares that his team manager often tried to make him a bit angry. “You tend to drive more on the edge. You just have to make sure you don’t go overboard, it’s a delicate balance,” the Austrian knows. “The only problem is: how do you get into that state? You can’t summon it every time. If your team boss makes you angry three times in a row, it won’t work the fourth time.”
Finally, Viaplay commentator and former driver Melroy Heemskerk. He dismisses it all as utter nonsense. “Why would you drive faster when you’re angry? As if you’re holding back normally? No, I don’t believe that. Moreover, I drove worse when I was angry. You cross the line and make mistakes, which ultimately only slows you down.”
In short, opinions among the drivers are quite divided. For some, it’s a blessing, for others, a curse.
