Max Verstappen has called out critics of his aggressive driving style, saying they don’t have a “champion mentality” to win Formula 1 titles.
As Verstappen’s Red Bull RB20 struggled for performance in the latter half of the 2024 season the Dutchman had to deal with Lando Norris piloting an altogether more competitive MCL38 machine.
With a performance deficit, Verstappen utilised his unique, aggressive skillset to limit the damage Norris could inflict in the Drivers’ championship battle.
What followed were separate incidents in the United States and Mexico City Grands Prix where some accused Verstappen of being too aggressive with Norris.
The Dutchman took both himself and Norris wide on two occasions in the United States GP to beat his rival to third after a penalty was inflicted upon the McLaren driver for the second incident.
A week later in Mexico City, Verstappen ran Norris off of the road twice in the same lap, incurring 20 seconds worth of penalties.
At the time, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said “Max is such an awesome racing driver, I just don’t think you need to drive like that.”
Asked for his response to that in an end-of-season interview with Viaplay, Verstappen said “Yes, but they don’t have the world champion mentality.
“I will always go to the limit to get the most out of every race and if I have to force it, then that’s just how it goes.
“Sometimes you have to cross a line. Well, I do.”
When prompted further, Verstappen was asked if had any regrets over his harsh driving in Mexico.
“No, not at all in that race,” he said. “I think I won points there.
“So like I said, I will always do everything to get the maximum result for a championship. And of course, sometimes you have to go to the limit or over the limit and not everyone understands that.
“Not everyone has that mentality.”
The ruthlessness is a trait that Verstappen shares with past F1 greats, such as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, two multiple world champions who never shied away from controversial manoeuvres in search of the ultimate goal.
Verstappen casts verdict on McLaren title challenge
Verstappen’s driving standards can be questioned to the nth degree, but the fact remains in the US GP he gained points on his closest title rival and in Mexico he was able to limit the damage to his title lead.
Without those two moments, who knows, Verstappen’s fourth world title would have been far more difficult to obtain.
Understandably, Verstappen feels McLaren has “a lot to learn” to fight for the Drivers’ title.
“They’ve had a very good car this year,” he said. “But I think it’s also clear that they still had a lot to learn, so to speak, to really constantly compete.
“Of course, they did well for the constructors’ championship, but they could have prepared much better for the drivers’ championship.”
Speaking to De Telegraaf, Verstappen suggested that had he been in the McLaren, the title wouldn’t have gone down to the 22nd round of a 24-round campaign.
“Whether I would have become champion in the McLaren? Yes! And a lot sooner too,” he said.
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