In Imola, Max Verstappen is set to compete with an upgraded RB20 car.
Max Verstappen says he gets more satisfaction from dominance than coming out on top in a close fight with a rival.
Over the past two years, the Dutch driver has become accustomed to winning races by significant leads, as he and Red Bull have consistently outperformed all other competitors on the grid.
Max Verstappen: I enjoy big-margin wins a lot more
Since the inception of ground effect regulations, the dominance of the Red Bull/Verstappen alliance has been utterly devastating, despite the immense struggles they faced from 2016 to the end of 2021. Each victory was hard-fought, as their Red Bull never enjoyed a distinct advantage over the competing cars.
During the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen, who has emerged victorious in 38 out of the past 50 Grands Prix, shared insights about the characteristics of his perfect wins in an interview with Sky F1.
When asked if he would rather emerge victorious from a thrilling race to the finish line against a formidable opponent or effortlessly dominate his competitors with 20-second leads, Verstappen grinned.
“At least 20 seconds!” he said.
“I find personal satisfaction in intense racing experiences, as I have had numerous encounters in close combat throughout my life. However, I derive even greater enjoyment when we successfully outperform our competitors by a significant margin. Admittedly, this might not be the preferred sentiment for fans, but I value honesty above all else, you know?”
“My purpose is to triumph and forge my own path to success.”
With all sorts of rumour and conjecture about his future in F1, particularly over whether he’ll remain with Red Bull to see out his contract until the end of 2028, Verstappen said he no longer has any goals he wants to achieve in the category.
He remarked, “In Formula 1, that’s no longer the case.”
“In F1, my focus is simply to maintain my current position while striving to win more races. I have already accomplished everything I set out to achieve in this sport.”
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Verstappen has made it clear he’d like to tackle other prestigious races, such as the Le Mans 24 Hours – and the endurance discipline in general – and said he’d have to have things fall his way perfectly to achieve a record-breaking eighth world championship to become the most successful driver in the history of the sport.
“He said that he wishes to explore various racing disciplines beyond F1 at some point, implying that he won’t remain in this sport until he reaches the age of 40.”
“I would need to continue winning until 2028, so let’s take a look!”
In 2024, Verstappen’s luck hasn’t been the best, as he encountered defeat in two out of the initial six races. Red Bull has already suffered more setbacks than they did throughout the entire 2023 season. In Australia, a brake issue dashed Verstappen’s hopes of completing the race, while in Miami, McLaren’s Lando Norris managed to outperform him after a Safety Car intervention disrupted Verstappen’s strategy.
Verstappen stated that his concern over being defeated indicates his enduring passion for F1, implying that he will remain in the sport for a considerable time.
He stated that it annoys him when things occur that could have been avoided.
“It’s a positive thing that I still feel irritation towards it because it indicates that I still hold concern for it.”
“Do I still want this?” is a question that arises when you no longer invest 100 percent due to lack of interest.
My passion lies in winning, being at the forefront, and collaborating with the exceptional individuals in our team. Striving for perfection is my ultimate driving force, constantly pushing me to be as close to it as possible.
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