Max Verstappen: "A lot of idiots" on social networks

Max Verstappen had a lively 2024 season. Ultra-dominant at the start of the season, the Dutchman seemed to be heading towards a new season without a rival for the world title until the emergence of McLaren and Lando Norris after the Briton's first victory in Formula 1 during the Miami Grand Prix. 

Although he managed to keep his closest pursuer at a distance, the now four-time world champion is aware that the Brazilian Grand Prix was a major turning point in this fight. And that it could very well have tipped the season in the wrong direction for him, who started in 17th position on the grid while Lando Norris was at the forefront.

Brazil, a major turning point in the fight for the title

« A lot of things went through my mind, confesses Max Verstappen in the video podcast Talking Bull, published this Thursday, December 26 on the YouTube channel of the Red Bull team. I was obviously very upset about the qualifying, almost to the point of destroying my room, but when I walked in, my dad was there. He was very calm. I was so angry, and then I saw him so calm that it really calmed me down. »

« There were sad faces that day, because you find yourself starting from 17th while your main opponent starts from pole position, adds the Dutchman. This could be a turning point in the season. Everyone was quite nervous. It was a rainy day, I like these conditions, I like driving in the rain, but you never know what can or will happen: you can end up eliminated or go off the track yourself. The race went as it should and it was good! I really enjoyed it, I felt good with the car and I gradually moved up to the front. As soon as I saw the result, I knew [that it was a decisive result for the championship]. »

Finally winning in terrible conditions while Lando Norris had to settle for sixth place after making two mistakes, the driver of the car No. 1 found himself after this weekend with an almost irremediable lead before the Las Vegas meeting where a fifth place was enough to seal the world title.

Las Vegas party after fourth world title

« I don't think the Las Vegas race will remain in my top 100 races, admits Verstappen. It wasn't really exciting for me, but I accomplished what I had to do. That was the most important thing for me. » By being crowned in the City of Vices, Max Verstappen was in the best possible place to celebrate this new coronation.

« It was great, I didn't sleep, he recalls. I met Martin Garrix (famous Dutch DJ. Ed.) who was playing there all weekend. I didn't leave the track until 4:30 in the morning. I had a few drinks. Some of the crew joined us and we had a great time. We laughed a lot. We ended up at the casino bar around 8:30-9:XNUMX, some people were having breakfast, some were drinking. This is Las Vegas. »

Tensions on the track with Norris and social networks

There was all the more reason to celebrate as the fight with Lando Norris had become tense at previous Grands Prix, with some heated situations in Austria, Austin and Mexico. For the Dutchman, the rivalry between the two friends has been exacerbated by social networks. People always make things so much worse on social media, there are a lot of idiots on those platforms, Verstappen comments. They always have something to say, there are a lot of positive people, but there are also real idiots. It's better to ignore all that. Lando and I get along really well. Of course, it was a bit tense on the track sometimes, but it didn't change anything off the track. We always try to do our best when we're on the track to get the best possible result. Things like that can happen when you're fighting for a championship. »

Far from having experienced the domination that everyone promised him at the start of the season, Max Verstappen recognizes all the work done by his team to allow him to win this fourth title. It wasn't the easiest to win, he confesses. We were coming off a season where we had dominated, I didn't expect it to be the case again, but I didn't expect the situation in the middle of the year either. I'm very proud of everyone in the team, we stuck together, we didn't panic, we always tried to find improvements on the car and understand the problems we had. We did it very well and we can be proud. »

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