Max Verstappen looks back on his title and explains his approach for the final races
Max Verstappen shared his emotions a few days after winning his fourth world championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Dutchman acknowledged that it was nice to celebrate this achievement after a "very intense" season.
With his fifth place in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen secured his fourth world title by beating his rival, Lando Norris, before the final two rounds of the season. As the season continues with the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend, the second stage of a triple final clash, Max Verstappen took a moment during Thursday’s media day to reflect on his championship success.
Interviewed about his emotions a few days after winning the title, the 27-year-old driver replied: « It was great, I was very happy with the season and winning it in Vegas. For me, it was a very intense season, so it was also very nice to be able to celebrate a bit. »
As for whether this championship had a particular flavor compared to the previous three, Max Verstappen emphasized that it was a special feeling to have accomplished this, against tough competition in 2024.
My titles have all been very different, but I think this one has been very rewarding, in the end. It hasn’t always been easy for us as a team, and managing to win this championship… I really felt it when crossing the line in Vegas, I said to myself: ‘It’s done!’ It has been sometimes difficult, but I am very proud of how we have managed everything.
Objective 2025
From now on, Max Verstappen is focusing on the final two races of the season, with the aim of learning lessons for 2025.
To be honest, we will still try to learn a bit more during these last races, but I think we already have a lot of ideas and things we want to change for next year, added the world champion.
« Only time will tell if this will be competitive enough or not. » As for the tight battle between the top teams, Verstappen stated that it didn’t really change his mindset for now.
« At the moment, it doesn’t bother me. I’m just trying to do my best for this end of the season, and for next year, we know there are many things we need to improve. That’s what we’re going to work on. Once the new season starts, we’ll see where we stand. It’s not something I’m thinking about right now.
In terms of the constructors’ championship, Red Bull remains mathematically in the running for the title in 2024, but the gap to close is significant. McLaren leads with a 53-point advantage over Red Bull, while Ferrari maintains a 29-point lead in second place.
