Viaplay's end-of-year interview with Max Verstappen: Simply Lovely
Published on 16 December 2024 by Misha van der Kroon
"Max Verstappen: Simply Lovely" is the title of Viaplay’s end-of-year interview with Max Verstappen, recorded in Abu Dhabi, and is now available on Viaplay.com.
Hosted by Amber Brantsen, the four-time World Champion looks back on the 2024 Formula 1 season, reflecting on quotes made about and by him. Responding to Fernando Alonso’s preseason remark in Bahrain—"I think 19 drivers in the paddock already believe they won’t win the championship"—Max said, “At the time, I couldn’t understand why the competition was so slow.”
“We’d made progress during development, and testing went well, but we still had some limitations. I was surprised at how far ahead we were. Especially considering how close it was at the end of last season, where things got a bit tougher. I really thought the others would make big improvements over the winter and close the gap, but in the first four Grands Prix, that just wasn’t the case.”
Was there any joking within the team about winning every race? “No,” Max clarified. “Not at all. We already said that after the 2023-season. That season was incredible, but at the start of this season, we knew that it would be almost impossible to repeat that. It just isn’t realistic with the current regulations. We took it race by race.”
Midway through the year, things got tougher, with the Hungarian Grand Prix being a particular low point where Max finished fifth. “That wasn’t a great race,” Max admitted. “We had a lot of updates, but they didn’t work well. We basically got everything wrong in the race. At that moment, I was done. I try to get the best out of the situation, but you could feel the tension, and that doesn’t help anyone perform well. After that race, we had some good conversations, sat down as a team, and said what needed to be said.”
In the title fight, McLaren introduced their 'Papaya rules’, which set internal guidelines for their drivers racing each other on track. “‘You are allowed to race’ is fine,” Max responded. “But what’s the point? They should’ve handled that more effectively as a team. They clearly had a very good car this year, but they had a lot to learn about consistency. They did well in the Constructors’ Championship, but in the Drivers Championship, they could’ve been better prepared.”
Did McLaren miss opportunities? “Absolutely, 100%.” Could Lando Norris have been champion? “Yes, that too.”
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen was beaten at home by Norris, who snatched victory and cheekily said over the radio “Simply Lovely, huh?”. Max reflected, “You have to see that as a compliment. If others start copying you, it’s a compliment. I think they were very focused on beating me at Zandvoort to make a statement and throw me off mentally. But I don’t care about things like that. I was just disappointed we came up short in the race. Of course, I would have liked to win in Zandvoort, but mentally, it doesn’t affect me. Even a quote like that doesn’t bother me. It’s fine, just let it go, I’m already focused on the next race. You have to stay unemotional about it; if you let those things get to you, you’ll start making mistakes.”
How is their friendship now? Max responded, “Completely fine.” Has anything changed? “I don’t think so. We text, we see each other, and I called him recently to swap helmets. That kind of stuff.”
Was the rain-soaked Brazilian Grand Prix the turning point of the championship? “Yes, that’s where it was decided. That win was one we really needed. After that, I knew we wouldn’t let the title slip away.”
How did you manage the recovery drive from P17 to victory? “I was obviously very angry after qualifying. Over the years, I’ve learned how to channel that into something positive. Otherwise, you risk driving frustrated and making mistakes. You need to reflect and analyse properly. And generally, I always feel good in the rain.”
Max clinched his fourth world title in Las Vegas. Describing the moment, the Dutch Oracle Red Bull Racing driver says: “When you cross the line and become champion, the entire season flashes before your eyes. I was also happy it was finally done. We had a lot of tough races and moments where the car wasn’t great to drive. It wasn’t the nicest car in terms of balance. So I was relieved the championship was decided, and I could focus on the rest of the season without the pressure of needing to deliver.”
The full 50-minute interview, “Max Verstappen: Simply Lovely,” is now streaming on Viaplay.com: https://viaplay.com/movies/max-verstappen-simply-lovely-2024
