Max from Abu Dhabi: 'Relaxed and here to win'
Published on 09 December 2021 by Kees-Jan Koster
The media attention for Max Verstappen is bigger than ever, now the apotheosis of the Formula 1 championship battle is approaching. The Dutch Red Bull Racing driver can take the championship from his rival Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi.
Max looks back on the current season in front of the international media: “As a team we can be very proud, to see where we came from and after the dominant season they had last year. To be able to fight for the championship, until the last round is very impressing.”
Max continues: “For myself, I am very happy with how the season went. I was also happy how last year went, but then I did not have the package to fight for titles. We won races, scored pole positions. We had a few unlucky moments, not due our own fault, but that is how racing goes sometimes. I think we have done pretty well.”
What did you learn this season, and did you change? Max answers: “I think I am the same person. We had another season and gained experience, but I already felt ready to fight for the championship a long time ago. To be honest, if I had a championship winning car when I joined F1 in 2015, I would have fought for that championship. A really good car makes your life so much easier.”
After a crazy race in Jeddah there was a lot of talk about everything happening on track and the given penalties. Max: “Clearly things do not apply to everyone. The way I defended was done by others too, and that was not mentioned or penalised. I do not understand, I was just racing hard. The way I see it I did not deserve any penalties. Other drivers did the same and did not get a penalty. That is not how it should be. I am only asking for it to be fair for everyone.”
It is an understatement that the coming weekend is important. But Max continues to be Max: “I will try to do the best I can and try to win this weekend. That is at the end of the day how you win a championship. I feel very good, very relaxed. And I am here to win.”
Contest GP Abu Dhabi: win a by Max Verstappen signed 1:2 helmet 2021!
