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Verstappen managed to romp to a win at the rain-hit Brazilian Grand Prix to end a 10-race winless run and strengthen his shout to retain the crown, but did not rule the title race a foregone conclusion citing the issues the Red Bull racer faced…Read More
Max Verstappen. (Photo Caption: Instagram)
Reigning Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen could clinch his fourth crown at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix if he can manage to ward off chasing Lando Norris.
The Dutchman holds a 62-point lead going into the race in the United States of America and will seal his title if McLaren’s Norris fails to cut the lead to the sub-60 mark at the end of the race in LV.
Verstappen managed to romp to a win at the rain-hit Brazilian Grand Prix to end a 10-race winless run and strengthen his shout to retain the crown, but did not rule the title race a foregone conclusion citing the issues the Red Bull racer faced earlier in the campaign.
“At the moment, it’s difficult to tell because if you look at the last few races in the dry of course we didn’t have the pace,” he started.
“It’s not that, because we won in the rain in Brazil, suddenly everything is fixed and everything is looking great again,” he explained.
“Of course, it gave me a good position in the championship, but also I have to be realistic that we are not the quickest,” the 27-year-old said.
“I hope that we can be competitive here. It’s still very unknown with the track temperatures, of course, and like last year very cold,” he added.
He added that his challenge from within was the one he was more concerned with and wants to be able to improve himself every time he steps out onto the track.
“For me, the pressure is from me because I want to do well always, every single weekend,” Verstappen asserted.
“And it is not necessarily about the championship,” he added.
“I am just trying to enjoy the weekend as well and to see how competitive we can be. It is not decided yet so there are still points that we need to be scored,” the Dutchman continued.
“Really, it is about how quick I am and how good the car is more than anything else.
The constructors’ championships has been a tight affair time season as Red Bull stand third behind top-placed McLaren and Ferrari in second place.
“In the last few races, McLaren has been the quickest but last year, Ferrari was very fast here and it can be different every year,” the Red Bull driver said.
“Other teams have upgrades compared to the last time here so it is difficult to say what can happen here at the moment,” he concluded.