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MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta has revealed what ‘surprised’ him about Formula 1 star Max Verstappen after the pair’s recent meeting in Barcelona.
Last weekend, with no MotoGP race, Acosta attended the F1 Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Despite coming home in fourth place, Verstappen endured a tough afternoon as he finished more than 40 seconds behind race winner Lewis Hamilton.
As a result, the Dutchman currently sits seventh in the world championship standings with 55 points, 101 points adrift of leader Kimi Antonelli.
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Pedro Acosta praises ‘great guy’ and ‘very approachable’ Max Verstappen
Despite another disappointing weekend, Verstappen took time to meet with MotoGP rising star Acosta.
The 22-year-old, who currently rides for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, reflected on his meeting with the four-time F1 world champion while speaking to Spanish news outlet Marca.
Acosta admitted that he was ‘surprised’ by Verstappen, claiming he was a ‘great guy’.
He also mentioned that other F1 stars such as Carlos Sainz, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were all ‘very approachable’.
Acosta said: “I was surprised by what a great guy he was—he was actually the one who sought me out. I thought, ‘Well, the race is over, he’s probably p—— off, so maybe I shouldn’t…’
“I tried to put myself in his shoes—thinking about how I’d feel if the tables were turned—but he’s a very approachable guy. That happened with quite a few of them.
“I got to say hello to Carlos Sainz, and I spent time with Piastri, Norris, and a good number of others—they were all very approachable.”
Verstappen also drew praise from Marc Marquez, a seven-time MotoGP world champion, who was impressed with the Dutchman’s ‘grit’.
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Pedro Acosta impressed with the way Max Verstappen handles frustration
It is well documented that Verstappen has endured a tough season so far in 2026, with Red Bull’s overall package lagging behind the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
The 28-year-old has only managed to finish on the podium once, which came in Canada when he took the chequered flag in third place behind Hamilton and Antonelli.
When asked whether he has any advice for Verstappen, Acosta was quick to praise the Dutchman’s ability to handle disappointment.
He said: “He had it easier, really, because he could just head to the Nürburgring, do the 24-hour race, and then take off for home.
“He has more breathing room. The guy is almost—well, practically—sick of winning. He’s handling it well—better than I expected, to be honest.”
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