PINKS

Natalie thinks Max's 'red mist' could be his secret weapon

- NATALIE PINKHAM

In the pressure cooker of elite sport, controlling your emotions is often lauded as the holy grail. I recently wrote about Oscar Piastri's calmness, his clarity within the chaos, and how that is reaping rewards. But for some athletes, success doesn't stem from Zen-like composure - it comes from something far more primal. Something raw, and often misunderstood: the infamous 'red mist'.

Max Verstappen - a generational talent and F1's reigning force - is an intriguing case study in how aggression can be so much more than just rage... it can be a razor sharp competitive edge. It's the combustible fuel that powers his brilliance, not a glitch in his wiring that undermines the system. Observers may criticise his aggression, his uncompromising wheel to wheel combat, or his at times frosty defiance in the face of the press. But to denigrate these traits is to miss the driving force behind his success.