Max Verstappen reflected on his long 2024 season with the Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, going over the thrilling moments and the challenging periods that came throughout a very intense year that led him to his fourth world title.
Max Verstappen focused especially on some criticisms he received during the season, responding to them… Max, with clear and direct concepts. Over his ten years in Formula 1, he has evolved from a teenage prodigy to a leading figure in the paddock, smoothing out some rough edges but always staying true to his path, with zero compromises on the track as well as in front of the microphones.
When reminded of what Zak Brown said during the Mexico City weekend (“Max is a fantastic driver, but I don’t think you should drive that way”), Max Verstappen was blunt. “They don’t have the mentality that a world champion should have, I will always go to the limit to get the best result, I will do that in every race. And if there’s a need to push, I won’t hesitate, sometimes you have to cross a line, and I’m ready to do it.”
Max Verstappen continued by confirming that he never regretted his racing conduct. “No, not even in that race (the Mexico GP), I don’t think I earned any points that weekend. As I said, I will always do everything I can to get the best result for the championship, sometimes you have to go to the limit or beyond the limit. It’s part of the game, and not everyone understands it, not everyone has that mentality.”
“They had a very good car this year – he added, referring to McLaren – but I think it became clear that they still had some things to learn to compete consistently. Obviously, they did a good job for the Constructors’ title, but they could have prepared much better for the Drivers’ Championship.”
In response to two subsequent questions about McLaren’s chances of winning the Drivers’ title, Verstappen gave answers that leave no room for interpretation. “Did they miss opportunities? Absolutely, 100 percent. Could Norris have become champion? Yes.”
Another issue concerns his management of race weekends. This year, Verstappen added simulator work to his track activities, participating in 24-hour virtual races, where he took part in night driving stints. In one of these occasions (the Hungarian GP, where he finished fifth), Max faced criticism for reducing his sleep hours before the race.
“This is another nice story – he commented – in Imola I participated in a 24-hour race and won both the ‘sim race’ and the Formula 1 Grand Prix. I slept about six hours, and no one said anything. Then the same thing happened in Hungary, where I won the 24 hours but not the Grand Prix, and here come the criticisms that I didn’t sleep enough. I heard a lot of stupid comments from a lot of people, not just from the team, but in the end, I know the rules of the game. If I have a drink on Saturday night and win the race the next day, everything is fine, but if the opposite happens, then it becomes a problem. It’s always been this way in Formula 1, and it always will be.”
“I live my life the way I think is best, and everyone should know how to live their own. I’ve been in Formula 1 for ten years, and I know what’s best for me. Sure, you can accept advice like, ‘hey Max, what you said might not have been very smart,’ conversation is important, but if it’s stupid comments about my virtual races, then I respond clearly: ‘What about Imola?’”
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