Max Verstappen showed amazing quick reflexes while sparring with a sumo wrestler.

Max Verstappen showed amazing quick reflexes while sparring with a sumo wrestler.

Max Verstappen really showed why he’s one of the best Formula One drivers ever during a fun challenge with a sumo wrestler.

He’s already won four F1 Drivers Championship titles in a row and came close to a fifth. With 71 Grand Prix wins over 11 full seasons, it’s clear Verstappen is one of the greats.

Being at the top of such a tough sport takes hard work and special skills. Formula One drivers need to be super fit, have lightning-fast reflexes, and believe in themselves completely.

Verstappen showed off all these skills when he faced a huge sumo wrestler before the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. With his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson watching, Verstappen tested his balance and reflexes in Tokyo. At first, it looked like a tight match, but Verstappen’s quick moves made the wrestler fall.

This was part of a fun series of challenges before the race. Verstappen, Perez, Lawson, and Tsunoda even took part in a wild Japanese game show where they drove trucks blindfolded through an obstacle course.

It seems these unusual training sessions paid off. Verstappen won the race easily, finishing 19 seconds ahead of second-place Lando Norris. Later that season, he claimed the 2023 title with 19 wins, 21 podiums, and 575 points. Perez was second with 285 points.

But things didn’t go as well in the 2026 race. Verstappen finished ninth, 32.6 seconds behind winner Kimi Antonelli. He’s still working hard to get back on the podium as he adjusts to the current rules.