Verstappen calm in new title fight: 'You always go for it'

Only 10 drivers have won more titles than Verstappen, five of whom stuck to three titles: Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna. So big names in the sport, to whose ranks Verstappen could be added in 2023. But Verstappen feels no extra pressure in the battle for his third world title.

"My favorite number is of course number three", jokes the Dutchman. "I mean, you always try to go for it, but I don’t know if we’re going to be good enough. Of course as a team we believe we are, we are very motivated, we’ve come off the back of a very strong year. We are working flat-out to try and achieve that. Everyone back at the factory, the whole winter, was working flat-out, and once I came back from holiday I was also working flat out to try and be in the best shape possible and once you’re back in the car, it’s go time and you have to deliver."

Verstappen holds off in FIA-F1 riot

Recently, the relationship between the FIA and Formula 1 has been rather strained. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem had made statements about a hypothetical sale of the sport that Formula 1 and rights holder Liberty Media did not like. Verstappen was asked if, as reigning world champion, he had an opinion on the matter, but as is often the case with topics like this, Verstappen kept his distance.

"I think a good relationship between the two sides is important. Of course they are talking, and I’m sure they also want to have a good relationship. So yeah, let’s hope that will be resolved soon."