Verstappen set for pep talks with iconic football manager

Max Verstappen and his fellow Red Bull F1 drivers could be about to receive motivational talks from legendary football manager Jurgen Klopp. 

Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager in 2024 after a trophy-laden eight-and-a-half years on Merseyside, including delivering a long-awaited first Premier League title in 2020.

During his time at Liverpool and previous clubs Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, Klopp earned a reputation as a motivational manager, producing some iconic performances as a result.

The German took on a new role as head of global soccer for Red Bull GmbH – Red Bull Racing’s parent company – on January 1st, with Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko eyeing up talks between Verstappen and Klopp.

“He is an extraordinary coach and a great motivator,” Marko told TyC Sports.

“I would like him to be involved with the drivers. His experience and leadership could be decisive.”

Speaking additionally to RTL, Marko added that he had not met with Klopp to discuss any such meeting.

“To date I have only seen him once in person, that’s it,” he said. 

“Football is very important to us, I think that was the best move that could have been made, but I just don’t know how he will combine it all, all these different teams on different continents.”