Last Sunday, the waving of the checkered flag at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit marked the conclusion of the longest season ever in Formula 1 history, with a total of 24 Grands Prix. It was an intense commitment for drivers, teams, and mechanics, who, on multiple occasions, were away from home for almost a month due to triple-header schedules.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen spoke candidly to reporters after the final race of the season, saying, “I’m very happy it’s over. It was really, really long.” Many are now hoping Formula 1 leadership will create a less compressed and more thoughtfully planned calendar for 2026, as the extended October break made little sense.
Max Verstappen: “McLaren deserved the title”
Of course, this wasn’t the only topic addressed with the Dutchman. Yesterday, the category crowned McLaren as the 2024 Constructors’ World Champions, a title Red Bull reluctantly surrendered after two seasons of dominance.
Max Verstappen commented on the rivals’ achievement with commendable sportsmanship, though he admitted he would have liked to be in the fight: “McLaren deserved to win the championship. They were very solid after Miami and showed competitiveness on every type of track. We hoped to be part of the battle, but too many things went wrong for that to happen,” he told *GPBlog.com.*
A surprising statement from the 2024 Drivers’ World Champion, highlighting how much Max Verstappen values his team and remains hungry for success. Despite his individual triumph, the team fell short of perfection. Significant work lies ahead this winter to meet the challenges that 2025 will bring.
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