F1: Series champion Verstappen lost 22lbs over winter

(GMM) Max Verstappen put on, and then lost again, an astonishing 22 pounds over the winter break.

Observers at the Bahrain test noticed the back-to-back title winner looking particularly slim.

The 25-year-old Dutchman admitted he put on weight over Christmas, with De Telegraaf newspaper reporting that he then lost the entire 10 kilos in six weeks.

“All year round I feel like I’m under my normal weight,” Verstappen said, explaining that his usual winter weight gain in other years is about 12 lbs.

“Then I give myself a month to eat and drink what I want and have a little fun.”

The Red Bull driver, however, said he then has no problem losing the weight, joking: “I like to hurt myself a bit.”

Verstappen has also revealed that he will use a motorhome at the European grands prix this year.

“It’s so I can stay focused during the race weekends,” he said. “And I can maybe stay in bed a bit longer in the morning.

“But above all it’s about privacy,” said the back-to-back drivers’ champion.

Verstappen, however, rejected Dr Helmut Marko’s claim that he is having a driver simulator built into his private jet.

“That’s a misunderstanding,” he said. “It would be cool, but I don’t think there would be much room left.”