Max Verstappen said he is proud of how he and his Red Bull team coped with the pressure of his championship fight with Lando Norris after securing his four consecutive title.
After winning seven of the first 10 grands prix this year, Verstappen has only claimed victory in one of the 12 rounds since then. He secured the title today with a fifth place finish in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“It’s been a long season,” said Verstappen after putting his points tally beyond reach with two rounds to go.
“Of course, we started off amazing, it was almost like cruising, but then we had a tough run. But as a team we kept it together, we kept working on improvements and we pulled it over the line.
“I’m incredibly proud of everyone, what they have done for me, and to stand here as a four-time world champion is of course something that I never thought was possible. So at the moment I’m just feeling relieved in a way, but also very proud.”
Verstappen appeared on course to repeat his dominant 2023 championship win after his strong start to the season. He admitted there were aspects of last season he preferred.
“It was a very challenging season,” he said. “I think also as a person at times it’s very challenging and I had to be calm.
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“In a way, of course, I still prefer last season. I enjoyed it a lot. But I think this season definitely, again taught me a lot of lessons that I’m very proud of how we handled it also as a team. So in a way, of course, that makes it also a very, very special and beautiful season.”
He paid tribute to his Red Bull team, saying they “have been through a lot together” since he joined them in 2016. “All these highs that we are achieving right now, it’s very, very special to do that with all the group of people that we have here at the track and back at the factory that continue to push flat-out to give me the car to fight for a title. To do that four times in a row is very special.”
As F1’s technical regulations will remain largely unchanged next year, many expect an even closer contest for the championship. Verstappen said he still has the appetite to take another title.
“If you look to next year right now, I think it’s going to be a proper battle between a lot of cars,” he said. “But I’m hungry.
“Of course I’m going to enjoy this. But there are still two more races that I want to do well at the same time. And then, of course, we…
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