Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has hit back at critics following his penalties in the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, saying “I know what I’m doing.”
Verstappen was handed two separate 10-second time penalties for forcing McLaren’s Lando Norris off the circuit in Mexico.
This cued comparisons to his tense title fight with Lewis Hamilton in 2021 and triggered others to lambast Verstappen for his aggressive driving style.
Naturally, then, this was a key point of discussion during Thursday’s press conference ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos.
“It’s my 10th year in Formula 1. I think I know what I’m doing,” Verstappen replied following the first of many questions related to Mexico.
Verstappen was then asked if he feels alone in F1, following several drivers calling on the FIA to alter racing guidelines.
“I don’t feel alone at all,” an aloof Verstappen said. “I have good friends and family, so I’m good.”
Verstappen’s aggressive driving has typified his career and when asked if that’s part of what makes him a champion he said “I think it’s just you win some, you lose some.
“That’s how it is in racing in general. And yeah, I like to win. I don’t like to lose. I think not many people like to lose. And I think, yeah, we just try to maximise the result.”
As the press conference progressed, more and more questions came Verstappen’s way.
For the most part, he was concise in his replies and didn’t really bite at the probing questions.
Verstappen trusts his inner circle amid ‘biased’ comments
Verstappen argued that “probably yes,” F1 is overregulated, adding that “the rulebook is only getting bigger and bigger every single year” and that isn’t “the right way forward.”
When asked to respond to the critiques from the likes of Damon Hill, who said Verstappen used his car as “a weapon” in Mexico, the Dutchman started to get a bit more punchy.
“I’m a three-time world champion,” he said, reiterating that “I know what I’m doing.”
Furthermore, when asked to name those within his circle he takes advice on how to go racing from, Verstappen not only played his cards close to his chest, but let his feelings fly a little further.
The Red Bull driver called out the FIA’s inconsistencies on swearing in a drivers’ press conference—following a punishment for him that wasn’t handed out to Charles Leclerc for the same offence—and called out bias.
“[I rely on] people that are objective and close to me and not just there to steer…I can’t say the word because I’ll probably get another… I mean, apparently it only counts for me anyway, because, you know, after the race in Mexico, people, someone was swearing, I didn’t hear anything from it,” he exclaimed.
“It’s better I don’t swear again. But, yeah, you know, some people are just being very annoying and I know who these people are.
“I don’t really pay a lot of attention to them anyway and I think I’ve got to this stage in my career with the right people supporting me and making my own decisions.
“Some people are just a bit biased and I mean, I get it. It’s fine. But it’s not my problem at the end of the day. You know, I just continue with my life and I keep performing.
” I just trust the people around me that are honest with me and that have a good heart. You know, that mean well and not just there to stir some kind of stuff.”
READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton: Max Verstappen racing Lando Norris the same as F1 2021
