“Chances of winning the title? 50%,” Max Verstappen said during the press conference for the United States Grand Prix, taking a pragmatic approach. Yet, throughout his career, when he has been the clear favorite, he has never backed down. Today, his advantage over Lando Norris in the standings adds to his strong bid for the world championship, but his form has taken a noticeable dip. “Six race weekends mean a lot of points,” Max Verstappen explained, “so many things can go right, and just as many can go wrong. Nothing is guaranteed, but I prefer not to think too far ahead. We’ll take it one weekend at a time, I don’t want to clutter my mind with too much else.”
This isn’t mind games, but a reflection of the current situation. Red Bull will bring updates to the track, a major effort completed just before heading to Austin. “We haven’t had the chance to test everything on the simulator,” Max admitted, “so for now, I can’t say much more. Pressure? No, when I get in the car, I try to do my best. When the car is capable of good results, I usually achieve good results, and when it’s not, things get harder. Sure, I like winning races or championships, but if it happens… it happens. That’s life.” – he pointed out.
This is the life of a driver who, at 27, already has three world titles, and he doesn’t feel any pressure as Norris closes in. Max hasn’t left points on the table. “We’ll rely on the data,” he said, speaking about the challenges the sprint weekend poses for car setup. “With only one session available, it’s tough. You start with the setup prepared at home, try to fine-tune it, and then rely on the engineers’ data to see if they’re satisfied with the updates.”
Max Verstappen will continue his protest with the FIA
Austin marks the first race after the “incident” in Singapore, where the FIA cracked down on the language used by drivers during press conferences. Max Verstappen became the first to be sanctioned under this rule. He confirmed that he intends to continue what he started during the Marina Bay weekend, meaning he will continue speaking to journalists outside the FIA press room if he feels it’s necessary to fully explain his stance. Max also confirmed he hasn’t received any communication from the FIA regarding the penalty imposed on him in Singapore.
“I haven’t heard from anyone, so for me, nothing changes,” he clarified. “I mean… I have to talk less, so that works fine for me too.” Verstappen’s stance has received support from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, with George Russell stating that the organization hopes to meet with the FIA next week to discuss the incident in Marina Bay. Verstappen said he is open to discussing the matter with President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and is awaiting his call.
“Everyone has their own opinion, but as has been said before, it was about silly things. I’m always open for a chat, but I’m not the one who has to make the call,” Max said. “I think this whole scenario is really pointless,” he concluded. “Of course, I understand that you shouldn’t swear, but there were no insults or anything like that. Then I read comments from people concerned about what kids might think, the example we set… well, when I was five, I can say for sure I never watched a press conference. And in school, you hear much worse things all the time. That’s just life, and I want to live mine. If I don’t agree with something, I’ll say so. That’s all.” – the three-time Formula 1 world champion concluded.
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