Verstappen: “If they talk about me, it’s because I occupy their minds”

Max Verstappen reminded Mexico, if necessary, that he remained a die-hard maverick whose main quality was not to cut corners. 

Sparkling but fallen poleman, the Dutchman experienced an eventful race, marked by a heated wheel-to-wheel duel with Lewis Hamilton at the start and a puncture following a superb although daring maneuver on Valtteri Bottas a few laps later.

After the race, the drivers Mercedes et Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), second between the Silver Arrows on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, recognized that they were taking precautions when it came to going up against the fiery Dutchman. Hamilton went so far as to say that he had been « torpedo » by the pilot Red Bull in the first sequence.

« I find these comments a bit stupid., reacted Verstappen from Austin. Of course, I'm a tough guy on the track, but I believe that I always remain fair and loyal in my behavior. These are disrespectful comments. It's always easy to criticize someone in front of journalists. Afterwards, if they talk about me, it’s because I occupy their minds. I think it's quite positive ».

Generally a fan of short and nervous answers, the Batavian was a bit more talkative when concluding the Thursday press conference in Texas, recalling in particular that he was not in F1 for stringing beads. 

« I prefer to fight on the track rather than outside, he added. If I have to stay quietly behind them, what's the point of coming? Might as well stay home. I want to fight against them, that’s what I’m here for. We are competitors by nature, the best drivers in the world. I fight to win, that's my reason for being ».

A booster shot for opponents who probably didn't need it.