24 January 2024 , 18:05
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Max Verstappen's departed performance coach admitted he didn't have a clue who the Red Bull racer was before he started working for him.
Bradley Scanes was a key ally to Verstappen for the four years they worked together. The Briton joined at the end of 2019 and worked with the three-time world champion for four seasons before his departure late last year.
Even before working with Verstappen, Scanes had an impressive CV. He has worked with Team GB gymnasts including triple Olympic champion Max Whitlock, and also had a spell working for football club Southend United.
But, until the chance to work with Verstappen came along, he admits he had no idea who the F1 star was. "Before I started working with Max, I didn't really know anything about motorsport and Formula 1 - I didn't even know who Max Verstappen was," he told the Red Flags podcast.
"I googled a lot to read myself in, to keep track of everything. I knew [Lewis] Hamilton was successful, but that was about all. The first F1 race I watched was in the Red Bull garage with the mechanics.
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"In December 2019, I met Max and in the second week of January, I started working with him. In the meantime, all of December, I watched and read everything loose and loose about F1. Everything I could think of."
Scanes went on to say how he managed to convince the Dutchman that he was the right man to take over his fitness regime. He explained: "I talked to some different people around him and then I was told I would fly to Barcelona the next day to meet him. 'Wait, I have 15 patients tomorrow!'
"After some shuffling then you just leave for Barcelona, you just have to do that. So I flew to Barcelona, where Max was at the circuit testing some GT cars. His whole family was there: his girlfriend, his father and his friends. It was very open, we found out what we expected from each other and we immediately got along well. So we talked about soccer and other sports.
"I didn't think I would get the job, but I thought 'let's try.' I said to Max, 'I already have a world title in my pocket, how do we make sure we get you one?' How are we going to build further and how are we going to make it happen?' I think he liked that!"
To replace his departed colleague, Verstappen has poached Rupert Manwaring from rival Carlos Sainz. Manwaring had worked with the Spaniard for eight years across spells at Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and, most recently Ferrari, but has now teamed up with the champion for a fresh challenge.