Max Verstappen has revealed that he spoke with new German national coach Jürgen Klopp ahead of the Netherlands’ international clash with Germany, with the Formula 1 star joking that a draw would be the ideal result.
Verstappen knows Klopp from their time together at Red Bull, and the pair were in contact before the eagerly anticipated meeting between the Netherlands and Germany.
“I’ve already spoken to Jürgen about it,” the Red Bull driver told Sky expert Timo Glock on the sidelines of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Asked by Glock to predict the outcome of Thursday evening’s international classic, Verstappen initially appeared unsure before settling on a result that would suit him.
“I’m hoping for a 1-1 draw, or something like that,” the 28-year-old said.
Laughing, he added: “I think that’s for the best.”
Verstappen caught between Netherlands and Germany
The match in Amsterdam has been eagerly anticipated, with Klopp’s appearance on the German touchline adding another layer of interest to the fixture.
Verstappen has a connection to both sides. The Dutchman has worked alongside Klopp during their time connected to Red Bull, while the Formula 1 driver’s own nationality naturally gives him an interest in the Netherlands.
The Red Bull star therefore opted for a diplomatic prediction rather than backing one side outright.
The international fixture comes as both teams enter a period of change. Germany have Klopp involved in a new role with the national setup, while the Netherlands have also undergone changes following the World Cup.
For Verstappen, however, his attention quickly returned to Formula 1.
Verstappen starts Azerbaijan weekend behind Russell
The Dutchman arrived in Baku focused on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the weekend began with two practice sessions on Thursday.
The unusual schedule was caused by Sunday being a national holiday in Azerbaijan, meaning the Grand Prix has been moved forward to Saturday, with the race scheduled for 1 p.m.
Mercedes driver George Russell set the pace in both practice sessions, leaving Verstappen chasing his rival at the start of the weekend.
Verstappen finished 0.400 seconds behind Russell in FP1 before ending FP2 in third place, 0.827 seconds off the Mercedes driver. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished between Russell and Verstappen in the second session.
Despite the gap, Verstappen was encouraged by the performance of his Red Bull.
Verstappen encouraged by Red Bull updates
“It was a good start for us,” Verstappen said. “I’m happy with the car. We still need to adjust a few things to improve the lap times. But overall it was a good start, the updates have worked as hoped.”
The comments suggest Red Bull was satisfied with the initial performance of its latest developments, although Verstappen acknowledged that further improvements would be required during the remainder of the weekend.
With nine races remaining, Antonelli leads the championship ahead of Mercedes teammate Russell and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli holds an 81-point advantage over Russell and leads Hamilton by 101 points, leaving Verstappen and the rest of the field with significant ground to recover as the 2026 season enters its later stages.
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Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.
