An enigmatic post by journalist Will Buxton on social media stirred Formula 1 fans and sparked speculation about Max Verstappen’s future. However, the reveal was connected to IndyCar and ended with a humorous reaction from David Coulthard.
The message Buxton posted suggested that a major announcement would be made that very day. Because of his long-standing ties to Formula 1 and the numerous rumors surrounding Verstappen, many fans interpreted the post as a possible hint at news concerning the four-time world champion.
Subsequently, however, the former F1 TV presenter and current IndyCar coverage contributor for Fox Sports clarified that his post referred to McLaren’s announcement in the North American series. The team confirmed the arrival of Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist to its IndyCar program, news Buxton described as highly relevant for the category.
During an appearance on the Up to Speed podcast, Buxton admitted that he was surprised by the direction the speculations took. According to him, the intention was merely to draw attention to a significant IndyCar announcement, not to fuel rumors about Verstappen.
“What I did not expect was for people to automatically assume that it was about Max Verstappen. So McLaren made the announcement later that day that Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist, winner of this year’s Indianapolis 500, had joined McLaren. It was big news for IndyCar. The hope was to draw attention to that major announcement for the series,” Buxton said.
After hearing the explanation, Coulthard took the opportunity to joke about the reach attained by the post. The former F1 racer highlighted the enormous reach of the publication and commented, in a relaxed tone, that next time Buxton should tag him directly on social media or, even better, mention the podcast itself.
The episode demonstrated how any ambiguous message involving a well-known figure in motorsport can quickly be linked to the Formula 1 driver market. In this case, however, the mystery stayed away from the F1 paddock, with the spotlight focused entirely on IndyCar and the impact of Buxton’s post among fans.
