Max Verstappen leans into horror villain role after Zak Brown's comments ring true

Max Verstappen leans into horror villain role after Zak Brown's comments ring trueStory byMotorsport photoAlex HarringtonSun, November 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM UTC·9 min read

After stealing another win from the McLaren team at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen responded to Zak Brown's description of him as a 'horror movie' villain, joking that the team can call him "Chucky" as the 2025 title fight heads to Abu Dhabi.

Speaking in the press conference after his win in Qatar, the reigning champion was asked about the comments made by the McLaren Racing CEO, who had likened the driver to a character in a horror film that "keeps coming back".

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"You can call me Chucky," he laughed. "I don’t know, I mean I saw it as well, I thought it was quite funny.

"From my side I just focus on myself, you know… I know that when I go in the car, I just try to do the best like I guess everyone does. That’s the only thing that I can control, right? And that’s the only thing that I focus on.”

Verstappen's win came after McLaren failed to pit its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri under a safety car, triggered by contact between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly. While the rest of the field pitted for fresh tyres, both papaya-clad drivers stayed out, leaving them out of sync with the rest of the grid.

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This left them vulnerable, and eventually Piastri fell from first to second while Norris slipped from third to fourth.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Brown's earlier comments, then, were not far off the mark, with him labelling the decision not to pit as a "huge mistake" that cost his team a win and likely a double podium, while Verstappen was able to capitalise on this poor strategy.

The Dutchman now sits just 12 points off the championship leader as they head to Abu Dhabi, but despite this, he insists he's relaxed.

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"I'm a lot more relaxed now. I know that I'm 12 points down. I go in there with just positive energy, I try everything I can but at the same time if I don't win it, I still know that I had an amazing season. So it doesn't really matter,” he said. “It takes a lot of the pressure off. I'm just out there having a good time like I had today.

"I also started today with 'oh, we'll see how it goes.' I know that when I sit in the car I will always maximise everything I can and that's what I'll try to do also in Abu Dhabi. But at the same time, I also know that we need to rely on probably some external factors to have a go at it.

"But a race like today shows that we think it's going to be boring and straightforward. It's not, so I'm hoping that Abu Dhabi is going to be similar."

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Photos from Qatar GP - Race

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

David Beckham

David Beckham

Clive Mason / Getty Images

George Russell, Mercedes

George Russell, Mercedes

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooled

The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooled

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

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Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba

Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Maya Jama

Maya Jama

Kym Illman / Getty Images

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Williams mechanics during pit stop practice

Williams mechanics during pit stop practice

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Mario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Clive Mason / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team

Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crash

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crash

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Drivers pit during the safety car

Drivers pit during the safety car

Altaf Qadri / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

David Beckham

David Beckham

Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

George Russell, Mercedes

George Russell, Mercedes

Clive Mason / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Mahmud Hams / AFP via Getty Images

A Williams team member

A Williams team member

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Andrea Stella, McLaren

Andrea Stella, McLaren

Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

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Carlos Sainz, Williams

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren

Jayce Illman / Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Hannah Schmitz, Principal Strategy Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing collects the Constructors trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar

Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mario Renzi - Formula 1 - Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Dom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images

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Carlos Sainz, Williams

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Clive Mason / Getty Images

James Vowles, Williams

James Vowles, Williams

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Carlos Sainz, Williams

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images

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