Max Verstappen from uncertainty to euphoria: ‘From childhood you don’t believe this is going to happen’ | formula 1

During the interviews shortly after the won Japan Grand Prix The Dutchman was told by former driver Johnny Herbert that he has won his second world title because Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc had been given a time penalty for cutting a corner on the last lap. Leclerc therefore fell from second to third place and with that result Verstappen would have won the title.

Initially, however, it was uncertain whether the organization had applied the correct scoring in the shortened race. Shortly after Verstappen had told his story about the race, he was made aware that he would have become world champion. ,,What can I say? Unbelievable of course,” said Verstappen, who then dived into the arms of his Red Bull mechanics. Moments later, doubts arose again. ,,Is it me or not?” said Verstappen to someone from the organization just before the podium ceremony.

When he appeared in front of .’s microphone after the podium ceremony, viaplay appeared, all ambiguity had come to an end. Because the race was finished and not stopped, full points were still awarded according to the rules. ,,These are the things you don’t believe from childhood will happen. I’m glad we were able to win it here in the end,” said the world champion.

How many more will come? “As long as we keep building good cars, I’m confident we can fight for championships. I also kept stomping at the end because I wanted to make an extra pit stop for the fastest lap of the race. But imagine if a wheel gets stuck… That would be sour, so I understand the team didn’t want to risk it.”

The second world title certainly felt a bit different from his first in 2021, Verstappen says. ,,In Abu Dhabi it was real fifty-fifty and for a long time it looked like it wouldn’t work. This year was different. We took a lot of wins, we were consistent and we are also in the lead among the constructors.” With four races to go in a year in which he has already won twelve times, Verstappen has now set his sights on the record of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. ,,I’m very close to thirteenth. I want to at least equal that.”