Formula 1’s reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen has been making the most of a brief break before the 2025 season preparations intensify. The Red Bull Racing driver was photographed over the weekend at a renowned restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal, where he was invited to don chef’s attire during his visit. While team factories across the sport reopened last week to begin work on the revolutionary 2026 regulations, Verstappen carved out time for a short escape to the Portuguese capital, where he and partner Kelly Piquet own property.
Factory doors reopen as pre-season work accelerates
The Formula 1 paddock ground to a complete halt in the days leading up to Christmas, with every team closing its doors to allow staff their first sustained rest period since the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Engineers, mechanics, designers and drivers alike scattered across the globe to spend the festive period with loved ones after what had been another gruelling campaign.
Last Monday marked the resumption of operations at Milton Keynes, Maranello, Brackley and every other F1 outpost. The focus has immediately shifted to the seismic regulatory changes arriving in 2026, with aerodynamic philosophy and power unit architecture both undergoing fundamental transformation. Some teams have wasted no time getting their new machinery onto track, with Audi’s Sauber-built contender already completing shakedown running at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya under testing dispensations.
Weekend appearance at Lisbon culinary institution
Despite the general return to work mode throughout the sport, Verstappen secured permission for a final brief getaway. His destination of choice was Portugal, where the Dutchman has established a secondary base after purchasing a residence with Piquet. The country has become a favoured retreat for the Red Bull star between the relentless travel demands of the Formula 1 calendar.
Verstappen’s weekend itinerary included a visit to Solar dos Presuntos, a celebrated restaurant situated in the heart of Lisbon. The establishment, known for traditional Portuguese cuisine, welcomed the world champion with particular flair. Photographs circulating on social media showed Verstappen posing in chef’s whites alongside restaurant staff, offering a rare glimpse of the intensely focused driver in a more relaxed setting.
Balancing rest with championship preparation
The timing of Verstappen’s Portuguese sojourn reflects the carefully calibrated approach to pre-season preparation that has become standard for elite drivers. While simulator work and fitness regimes will soon consume daily schedules, the short window between factory reopenings and the team’s 2025 car launch presents a final opportunity for genuine downtime.
For Red Bull Racing, the 2025 campaign carries particular significance. The team enters the year as reigning constructors’ champions but faces renewed challenges from McLaren and Ferrari, the latter now armed with Lewis Hamilton‘s experience. Verstappen’s new teammate Liam Lawson will be finding his feet at the squad’s Milton Keynes headquarters, familiarising himself with systems and personnel after replacing Sergio Pérez.
What this means going forward
Verstappen’s Portuguese interlude represents the final moments of genuine freedom before the 2025 season machine begins operating at full capacity. Within weeks, the Red Bull driver will be immersed in simulator sessions, engineering briefings and sponsor commitments as the team prepares to unveil its new challenger. The shakedown restrictions that govern pre-season testing mean track time will be precious, making thorough preparation in virtual environments and strategy rooms essential.
The coming months will reveal whether Red Bull can maintain the dominance that secured Verstappen four consecutive titles, or whether the resurgent McLaren and reinvigorated Ferrari can mount sustained championship challenges. For now, the Dutchman appears content to savour his final days away from the cockpit, chef’s whites and all.
