Racing
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Otmar Szafnauer has drawn a blunt contrast between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, claiming Verstappen is always first into the paddock while Hamilton times his arrival for the photographers so he can be seen in his latest outfit.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, the former Aston Martin and Alpine team principal used the two champions to make a wider point about paddock behavior and priorities. Asked which driver is always first to arrive, Szafnauer did not hesitate. “Max Verstappen,” he said. “He is always the first to arrive.”
He then turned directly to Hamilton, describing a very different routine for the seven-time world champion. “Lewis only arrives when all the photographers are already there, so he can wear those ridiculous clothes and take photos,” Szafnauer said, framing Hamilton’s entrance as part of a carefully staged off-track image rather than a simple arrival at work.
The remark put Hamilton’s public persona at the center of the discussion. While the Ferrari driver’s profile stretches well beyond Formula 1, with interests in fashion, music and cinema, Szafnauer’s criticism focused on what that image looks like inside the paddock and how it compares with Verstappen’s more stripped-back approach.
That comparison was the point of the exchange. Szafnauer held up Verstappen as the example of the driver who reports early and gets on with the day, then used Hamilton as the opposite case, questioning the value of the photo-heavy arrival that has become part of his public identity.
The conversation did not stop there. Podcast host Jake Humphrey pushed back on the criticism, saying he liked Hamilton’s style and suggesting that Hamilton “dares to stand out.” Rather than soften his stance, Szafnauer doubled down.
“He can carry off the look; I can’t,” Szafnauer said, before adding another pointed line: “I think fashion helped with Kim Kardashian, without a doubt.” The response shifted the discussion from clothing alone to the way Hamilton’s celebrity reach intersects with the image he presents around race weekends.
For Verstappen, the comparison amounted to praise for a workmanlike reputation from a former team boss who has led teams at the top level. For Hamilton, it showed how even his arrival at the circuit remains a subject of debate, with his off-track profile drawing almost as much scrutiny as anything he does on it.