Nike thwarts Verstappen’s fashion plans

A planned clothing line by Max Verstappen has been stopped in its tracks by Nike.

De Limburger newspaper reports that the back-to-back world champion intended to call it ’Max 1’ - which Nike argued is too close to their ’Air Max’ shoe line.

The Belelux Office for Intellectual Property confirmed that an investigation took place and that Nike ultimately had a strong argument.

"The goods in question are partly identical and partly similar," the report apparently said.

"There is a certain visual and phonetic similarly between the signs," the intellectual property office added, agreeing that there is a "likelihood of confusion".

"The public might think that the contested sign is a sub-brand of the opposing party (Nike)."