Max Verstappen was notably absent from a special screening of the new ‘F1’ movie in Monte Carlo, held just before the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. While most F1 drivers, team principals, and special guests attended the premiere, Verstappen, along with Lance Stroll, chose not to show up in person. Instead of joining the event, Verstappen was engaged in an alternative activity that drew fans’ attention elsewhere.
Verstappen Streams As ‘Franz Hermann’ Alias, Keeping Identity Low-Key And Playful Online
Rather than attending the movie screening, Verstappen streamed live on Twitch using the alias ‘Franz Hermann,’ a pseudonym he recently adopted during a secretive lap of the Nordschleife track in a Ferrari 296 GT3. Playing under this German-sounding name, he joined Team Redline for an iRacing session from his apartment. The new father humorously acknowledged the familiarity of his voice during the stream, delighting fans who had caught on to his alias.
Max Verstappen Skips F1 Movie Premiere to Stream as Alter Ego ‘Franz Hermann’ on TwitchVerstappen’s use of ‘Franz Hermann’ began as a way to keep a low profile during his surprise Nordschleife outing, where he intentionally chose a fake German name. He admitted to the media that the pseudonym was designed to be as German as possible to keep his identity under wraps early in the day. The playful alter ego even attracted mock “contract offers” in videos Verstappen shared on social media, showing his lighthearted take on the situation.
F1 Movie Explores Racing Rivalry, Redemption, With Praise From Current Drivers
The ‘F1’ movie centers around Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, a racer who initially fails in Formula 1 but is later asked to mentor a rookie prodigy, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). The film explores themes of fierce competition within teams and personal redemption, set against the backdrop of the high-stakes racing world. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the movie features notable actors like Kerry Condon and Tobias Menzies and was filmed during actual F1 race weekends, adding authenticity to the racing scenes.
The first viewers of the movie, including many current F1 drivers, shared positive reactions. Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli described it as “pretty good” though somewhat long, while Pierre Gasly said he “really loved it.” Franco Colapinto called it a “great one,” and George Russell expressed excitement, encouraging fans to watch it. Despite Verstappen’s absence, the film clearly made an impression among the F1 community.