​It was a day that could have set a record at the Tour de France, yet Max Verstappen still found his name thrust into the spotlight at cycling’s most prestigious event. The Dutch driver, who is currently at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, unexpectedly became part of the Tour’s commentary highlights during Stage 12. As the riders passed the Magny-Cours circuit, a rider from the XDS Astana team could be heard over the team radio echoing the well-known chant associated with the four-time Formula 1 world champion: “Dudududu Max Verstappen.” The chant has long served as Verstappen’s unofficial anthem, inspired by DJ Peter Gabriel’s song 33 Max Verstappen, and has since moved beyond Formula 1 to become a familiar refrain at other sports. Most recently, it echoed through the Nürburgring 24 Hours as BMW driver Jens Klingmann sang it over the radio while Verstappen overtook him.
During Stage 12 of the Tour de France, the action culminated in a victory for Søren Wærenskjold. The Norwegian surged with a long-range burst to outpace the sprint favourites, delivering the fastest stage in Tour de France history. The win marked Wærenskjold’s first Tour de France stage victory and only the second for his team, Uno-X Mobility, highlighting a breakthrough moment for the Norwegian squad.
Turning back to Formula 1, Verstappen addressed the rear wing issues that contributed to two high-speed crashes in recent weeks. Following the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, he had suggested that the team had not fully listened to his concerns about the problem. In the lead-up to the Belgian Grand Prix, Verstappen indicated that Red Bull had conducted a thorough investigation and reached conclusions about the crashes. “They investigated a lot of things and certain conclusions were reached. Some things are a bit harder to understand. It has all been recorded and we have talked about it, yes. I don’t need to, when I come back to the factory, say ‘you’re not listening.’ That’s not how those conversations go,” he told GPblog.
For the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull has returned to its more conventional rear wing configuration, while additional testing is planned on the flexible rear wing design that has been used since the Miami Grand Prix. The team’s aim remains to balance performance with reliability, addressing concerns about structural flexibility and aerodynamic behavior at high speeds. Verstappen’s remarks come as Red Bull continues to evaluate options ahead of the next rounds of the season, seeking to optimize performance while maintaining the integrity of the car under escalating competition.
As the sport moves forward, Verstappen’s remarks and the cultural moments tied to his name—such as the enduring “Dudududu Max Verstappen” chant—underscore how a single driver’s profile can resonate across disciplines. From the Tour de France’s dramatic sprints to the high-stakes circuits of Formula 1, Verstappen remains a central figure in modern motorsport, drawing attention from fans around the world and fueling ongoing conversations about performance, reliability, and team communication.