World champion Max Verstappen is not the least bit nervous before his first match point in the long-decided Formula 1 title fight.
“I’m shaking,” said the Dutch Red Bull driver on Thursday in Qatar, grinning mischievously and quickly adding: “No, it’s all good. We’re having an incredible year and we’re coming here to win again.”
A sixth place in the sprint before the Grand Prix in the north of Doha is enough for the 26-year-old to secure his third title in a row on Saturday (7:30 p.m./Sky).
Formula 1: Max Verstappen knows about his chance of winning the World Cup title
“Of course I know that I can win the world championship on Saturday. We are focusing on having a good weekend,” said Verstappen.
Even if that doesn’t work, the title can no longer be taken away from him. The next opportunity would already be in the Grand Prix on Sunday (7:00 p.m./Sky).
“We should be quick here, but we have to make sure that we get going well. Normally it should be a good route for us,” said Verstappen in the paddock of the Gulf Emirate. In the only World Cup round in the premier motorsport class in Qatar in 2021, he finished second behind Lewis Hamilton.