The Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), new triple Formula One world champion, explained this Saturday at the Lusail circuit, where he finished second in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint, that “of course” he wants to “keep winning as long as he can”, but that , at this moment “everything is perfect, because“has achieved more success than he ‘thought.’
If he wins again this Sunday, when he starts from pole in the ‘normal’ race at Lusail, Verstappen, who turned 26 last week, will add to his 49th F1 victory – the fourteenth of the year -, therefore it will be just. two away from Frenchman Alain Prost’s historic mark of fourth. And in the remaining five races he can also catch up with the other four-time world champion, the German Sebastian Vettel, 53 times winner of the premier category.
“Of course I want to win everything I can. (Achieve the victories of the aforementioned Prost and Vettel) It depends on what happens in the next races. But right now what I want is to enjoy this moment. I am very proud and happy. I’m still young, but I’m earning more than I expected. I have achieved more than I ever imagined. So everything is perfect at this moment for me,” the triple F1 world champion responded to Efe this Saturday at the official press conference of the FIA (International Automobile Federation) that took place at the Lusail circuit, located about 30 kilometers north of Doha, the capital of Qatar.
“Being a triple world champion is something very beautiful. Sounds good. I am very proud for myself, for my family; and for everyone on the team, to whom I am extremely grateful for the amazing work they always do. The atmosphere within the team is wonderful and working with these people is something very important,” he commented.
“Of the three titles, I think this is the best. The first may be the most emotional. But this year was clearly my best year, with ten victories in a row (building a historical record), which I am also very proud of. Then there is a title in the middle, which is that: the one in the middle,” said ‘Mad Max’, who on Friday signed his thirtieth pole position in the honorable division of motorsports, the tenth of the season.
“It’s hard to say if the moment I tested the RB19 in the pre-season tests, I already knew that with this car I would win again without a problem. The truth is that it is very good, but we are in Bahrain. The pace is good in that circuit (Sakhir ), but we also do not know how it will happen in others.”
“But “Throughout the year we had good results and we did a great job”said Verstappen, who declared that he never saw himself as a world champion until this Saturday. “I have total security now, because dreaming never gets you anywhere. But it is clear that we have been improving race by race,” he said.
“I don’t know if this year I’ve improved that much. I don’t know if I’m fast, but it’s clear that you have more experience. That you grow as a driver and as a person,” Commented ‘Mad Max’, who, when asked if he felt pressure at some point during the season referred to Zandvoort, where he won the Dutch Grand Prix in front of his passionate fans.
“On the asphalt that was wet and very slippery, because we were on slicks, I noticed something, because behind were people who were unbeaten in that race,” explained the Dutch super-predator, who was not entirely clear What has been your best that success.
“I liked the one in Miami (USA). Also the one in Spa (Belgium), the one in Zandvoort. In Suzuka (Japan) we won the constructors’ World Cup again. It’s hard to say just one,” he noted.
He was more clear, however, about what his best pole position was: “the one at Suzuka, maybe. The car didn’t seem real. And he drove it with a smile,” said Verstappen, who, in terms of the best Grand Prix of his team, is explicit. : “every weekend. I can’t choose anyone. The team is always good.”
He doesn’t know how many more titles he can win. “It depends on the package (of the car). I know I’m still young and I still have a few years left. Depends on how long I’m here and if anything changes. But for now I go on with all the desire in the world. Now I know I only need three points, but I want to win. I found out that he is the world champion because ‘Checo’ has retired. But I didn’t think about that then. “I want to win,” he said.
“Someday hunger will end, it’s logical. I’m still young, but the time will come when I’ll have enough and want to do other things; or run less races. But not now,” he said.
“Tonight we’re obviously going to be drinking,” he commented with a smile. “But tomorrow I’ll be here again,” said the new triple world champion this Saturday in Qatar.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
