‘Oh Clutch! I’m Switching’: Max Verstappen Hilariously Sings to His Clutch During Sao Paulo GP Practice

Max Verstappen may be a four-time world champion and perhaps even one of the best drivers the world of F1 has ever seen. But the best introduction to the Dutchman remains his hilarious interviews and responses, which often get clipped all over social media.

Keeping the tradition alive, the Dutchman provided one of the funniest moments of Friday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix practice sessions after getting increasingly frustrated with his Red Bull’s gear-shifting behavior.

While driving in FP2, Verstappen’s stand-in race engineer, Tom Hart, told Verstappen that there wasn’t much to do with the switch, since the clutch was adapting to how Verstappen was driving. “What does that mean? I have to speak to the engine myself?” asked Verstappen, before a hilarious moment ensued on live TV.

The 29-year-old broke into what sounded like a musical number as he sang, “Oh clutch, I’m switching! You’ll be punished otherwise!”

One can only imagine what was going through Hart’s mind, particularly given it was only his second weekend working with the Dutch driver. Had it been Gianpiero Lambiasse (GP), a fitting reply might have come forth, or perhaps Hart was just left speechless at the incredible musical abilities of the No. 3 driver.

The Comedy Gold That Is Max Verstappen

Outside of overtaking his rivals, if there’s one thing that Verstappen has mastered, it’s his ability to deliver seriously funny responses and one-liners with a deadpan delivery. The 29-year-old has a wonderfully dry sense of humor, often leaving journalists, fellow drivers, and even his own engineers wondering whether he is being serious or simply having a laugh inside.

One of his most memorable moments came during a media interaction when he was asked how he would introduce himself to someone who had no idea who he was. Opting not to introduce himself as one of the best drivers in F1 history, Verstappen simply said that he would refer to himself as a taxi driver and would drink the night away with the stranger.

Another hilarious moment came at the 2024 Miami GP, when Verstappen faced a hypothetical question. Not a fan of questions that come with an ‘if,’ Verstappen was asked if he would have won if the safety car had not worked in the favor of Lando Norris.

“It’s always if, if, if, right? If my mum had b**ls, she would be my dad!” replied an irritated Verstappen, while everyone else tried their best to hold their laughter in.

While these and a lot more interactions have made Verstappen the ‘funny man’ of the grid, his relationship with GP gives way to a lot more fun.

Max Verstappen and GP Are a Match Made in Heaven

If Verstappen’s relationship with his current car is ‘complicated,’ to say the least, his bond with GP is a whole new level of comedy show. The duo has been working together since 2016, with many considering GP as the only man on the grid capable of taming Verstappen.

While GP is usually the calm voice trying to keep his driver in check, Max seems to take particular pleasure in testing just how far that patience can stretch.

One such moment came at the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix, when GP asked Verstappen to manage his tires and use his head. The Dutchman, having already built a comfortable lead, decided to test his race engineer’s patience by suggesting that instead of managing his tires, he should rather push more and give his team some real-time pit stop training.

“No, not this time,” responded an exhausted GP who was clearly not in the mood for any jokes.

Their banter also extends to encounters that have absolutely nothing to do with racing. When Verstappen spotted a rather large reptile on the track in 2016 in Singapore, he immediately alerted GP, who responded with a perfectly timed, “Face-to-face with Godzilla then, mate?”

Fast-forward to 2023, and another lizard appeared on the circuit. Verstappen pointed it out again, prompting GP to joke, “Maybe Godzilla had a kid!”

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