TV presenter Shelly Sterk is obsessed with Formula 1 and never misses a race. Not even when she’s dining with her family in a pancake restaurant. “Watching Formula 1 is a bit like watching a soap opera,” she says.
– How did your passion for Formula 1 actually start?
“It’s actually all Max Verstappen’s fault. Like a large part of the Netherlands, my interest started when Max began with Toro Rosso in 2015, and I’ve only followed the sport more intensively since then. So, both Max and I are celebrating a ten-year anniversary this year.”
“I watch everything. At least, as much as possible. I definitely watch all the qualifications and races, and if time allows, I also try to follow the training sessions. No matter where I am. My in-laws once planned a dinner at a pancake restaurant during a race. Well, I was there with one eye on my mobile phone.”
– This season, you were at the British GP at Silverstone, among other places. How was that?
“I was there on the invitation of Peroni. Since this year, Peroni Nestro Azzurro 0.0% is a sponsor of Ferrari. I was in the Ferrari pit box, among other places. It was my first time being so close to the action. It was fantastic. The year before, I was in Miami, which was fantastic for other reasons – the festival vibe and the great weather.”
Shelly Sterk: ‘Max Verstappen Evokes a Sense of National Pride in Me’
What Attracts You to Formula 1? Can You Explain?
“It’s not necessarily about Max Verstappen, I must say. Of course, I’m happy when Max performs well. He evokes a sense of national pride in many people, including me, similar to the Dutch national football team. But I also enjoy following the sport itself, from the tactical aspects to the main characters moving around the circuit. In many ways, it’s like a TV soap opera that you follow.”
If You’re Talking About a Soap Opera, You’ve Certainly Had Your Fill This Year with Everything That Happened On and Off the Track, Right?
“Haha, definitely. It can be exhausting, but also entertaining. And interesting, for instance, how some individuals and teams try to use the media to frame things in a certain way. Formula 1 is not just a sport, it’s also politics and entertainment. And it’s amusing when you can easily see through it, because sometimes it’s just so incredibly obvious.”
Shelly Sterk: ‘Max is straightforward, which I find refreshing’ (Instagram shellysterk)
On Trivial Matters, Such as the Use of the Word ‘Fuck’…
“Well, exactly. I find that so ridiculous. The FIA treats drivers as if they are toddlers instead of adults. We all say ‘fuck’ occasionally without intending to offend anyone. The fact that the FIA takes action against this, I really think: guys, focus on other things. All the fuss also detracts from the sport, which is a shame.”
“I think Max Verstappen is a unique talent, but what I also appreciate about him is that he is just a down-to-earth Dutchman who doesn’t beat around the bush. He is straightforward. I find that refreshing in the media and in the sport. And on the track, he drives aggressively. Often on the edge, sometimes over it. But that makes it always fun to watch.”
Your Most Beautiful Memory of Formula 1?
“Max’s championship race in 2021 in Abu Dhabi. I remember it very well. My eldest son, who was still very small at the time, was jumping up and down in front of the TV at home, and my husband was almost crying. That finale was truly legendary.”
Finally, Would You Like to Do Something Professionally with Formula 1?
“I regularly join RTL Boulevard to talk about F1 and I have had several discussions about starting an F1 podcast, so who knows. However, at Boulevard, I always ask them to refer to me in the title bar as an F1 enthusiast and not a Max Verstappen fan. Because that’s not how I see myself. It’s not like me and all the girls who are fans of Harry Styles and think everything he does is amazing. But proud of Max, I certainly am.”
