Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen revealed that his favorite football club is FC Barcelona from Spanish football league, La Liga. He also mentioned his love for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the current host of the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Spanish GP at Catalunya is quite special for Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s crash in 2016 allowed the Dutchman to celebrate his maiden win in F1. Since then, he has been an unstoppable force on the grid. He won four consecutive World Championships between 2021 and 2024. Moreover, he is still a contender despite not having the fastest car this season.
As F1 heads back to Catalunya for this season’s Spanish GP, Max Verstappen mentioned how he loves racing on the track. He stated that it is one of his favorite tracks on the calendar, and is also special considering he won his first race over here.
“Also, like, really, one of my favorite tracks, even though I think we have driven a lot, you know, on the track, but it, for me, it never gets boring. I always enjoy driving it now, naturally, yeah, this is a bit more special when you win here, especially the first win that I ever had in Formula One,” Max Verstappen said.
“So for me, yeah, it is always very special to be here my favorite club, like Barcelona as well. I enjoy it,” he mentioned his favorite club.
He later added that FC Barcelona is also his favorite football club. FCB were the La Liga champions of the 2024/25 season. They were also close to getting into the finals of the UCL. However, Inter Milan’s last-minute goal gave them the lead.
While FCB had a fantastic run in La Liga, Verstappen has endured a rollercoaster 2025 F1 season. Despite this, he is still a contender for the Drivers’ Championship this season.
Max Verstappen “not enjoying” 2025 F1 season
Red Bull does not have the fastest car this season. The team sits in third in WCC and is at risk of losing the spot to Ferrari this weekend. However, Verstappen has still managed to keep himself at the top.
He managed to clinch two victories this season, altered with another two podiums in Australia and Saudi Arabia. Although he is in close competition with the McLarens at the top of the table, Max Verstappen mentioned that he does not find the season “enjoyable.” He stated it’s more fun for him to race knowing that he would be fast, but that hasn’t been the case this year. He said (via BBC Sport):
“I’m more excited if I know that we’re going to be super quick. That’s the most exciting. I always try to do my best, but this year so far it had some real positives, but of course also some negatives. With some races we are really off the pace, which is not enjoyable,” Max Verstappen said.
“That also doesn’t mean that I’m enjoying it or loving it. I like it. Up until this point it’s not going to be remembered forever.”
Oscar Piastri currently leads the Drivers’ Championship with 161 points while Verstappen is in third place with 136 points.
