Max on brink of third title: 'Unimaginable'
Published on 05 October 2023 by Stefan Meens
Ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen spoke to the international press, including Verstappen.com, to discuss the upcoming race weekend in which the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver looks set to clinch his third world championship.
In the build up to the Grand Prix, the Dutchman celebrated his 26th birthday. “It was nice to be at home for my birthday. It was really relaxed and it was nice to celebrate it at home. The last few years, it has always been at a circuit.”
This weekend’s round of the 2023 F1 season, features another sprint at a circuit infamous for its warm conditions, both ingredients for a challenging event. “It’s really very hot but it does cool down a bit in the evening. So it does mean that the first and only practice session doesn’t really bring clarity ahead of qualifying because the conditions will differ so much. The balance, tyres and set-up will change. Because it’s a sprint weekend, it’s more difficult because you have take more of a risk when making decisions.”
The championship leader added: “That’s a bit of shame. It would be amazing to have a couple of practice sessions to really get the car dialled in, so you can go into qualifying with maximum confidence. That would be the best for all teams to get the most out of their car, but it is what it is.”
Last year did not feature the Qatar Grand Prix, so it is the first time Formula 1 competes at the Lusail International Circuit with the latest generation of ground effect cars. “Normally, we should be quick around here, but it’s a sprint weekend, so we only have one practice session. So we need to make sure that we’re up to speed immediately to get the car in the right window. This circuit should suit our car, so hopefully we’ll have a good weekend.”
By finishing sixth or higher in Saturday’s sprint, Max can seal championship number three. Despite the high possibility of claiming his third drivers’ crown, the double champ does not approach the weekend in any other way. “We’ve had a great year and we hope to win here this weekend. Of course, I can win the title on Saturday, but we’re focussed on having a good weekend. If we win it on Saturday, we’ll have enough time to celebrate during the weekend.”
Where 2021 featured an intense battle for the championship that went all the way to the last lap of the last Grand Prix, this season’s campaign is a dominant one. “Two years ago, it was the fight for my first title, and the emotions then were very specific for that moment. Now, I’ve already got two championships, so to go for the third feels different. We are in a completely different position as a team, and our car is much better than the competition compared to 2021. But I enjoy both. It was amazing to fight until the last corner, but now it’s great too. It’s nice it can be different.”
Despite enjoying a lot of success in the last couple of years, Max remains down to earth. “Of course I’m proud of what we’re achieving, but I live in the moment, so I want more. I know that after my racing career I’ll look back and appreciate it all even more, because what we’re achieving is something you can’t dream of as a kid.”
Contest GP Qatar: win a canvas 'Austria 2023 by Eric Jan Kremer'
