Inside Max Verstappen’s training routine, exercise plans and diet

Max Verstappen has previously opened up on the exercise routine, training schedule and diet which has helped him secure two F1 Drivers’ Championships. Verstappen dominated the campaign last season and currently leads this year’s championship with just three races completed. Express Sport takes a look at how the 25-year-old keeps himself in shape.

Exercises

Verstappen has revealed the hardest part of racing is the strain on his neck and lower back. He uses weights and balancing exercises from his home as well as a series of exercise machines.

These include a wattbike, Isomed steering wheel to build up upper arm strength and a neck dynamometer. Verstappen told JOE: “For me the most important is just the cardio. I do a lot of running, Everyone is built differently.

“Some people need to work out a lot and need to focus on their muscles to keep the muscle strength up. From my side, I think I’m a little bit lucky that I don’t need to focus too much on that. Of course, I’m doing these workouts but if I don’t do that for like a week I’m not losing a lot of strength.”

Training routine

Max Verstappen has previously revealed he trains up to two times a day to stay fit throughout the F1 season. However, he stresses the importance of rest in a packed calendar and admits to having several off days when away from the track.

Speaking to Men’s Health, Verstappen has previously explained: “In season, training depends if we are racing or not. Let’s say if we have a week off racing, I have Monday as a rest day.

Then Tuesday to Thursday, I will do 1-2 training sessions per day, depending on how busy we’ve been in the weeks before, and I would take Saturday and Sunday off for recovery. We have a lot of travel and spend a lot of time in the simulator so I like to get in at least three training sessions per week during the season.”

Diet

Verstappen has admitted to having a “carefully managed” diet to maintain his condition across the F1 season. The Dutchman revealed he doesn’t eat breakfast, instead opting to eat a bigger lunch.

Verstappen maintains a weight limit of around 75 kilograms and accepts he “cannot eat and drink everything” he wants as a result of his career.

He told Men’s Health: “My diet is also carefully managed as body weight is very important in racing, so I am always making sure I’m eating plenty– because it is such a physically demanding sport– but being careful about what I am eating. Verstappen also admitted his diet can change depending on where in the world he is racing.”