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Verstappen doesn't play mind games: 'I don't see everyone as the enemy'
- Ludo van Denderen
Max Verstappen can now relax. Despite a challenging year in which he suddenly no longer had the fastest car, Verstappen eventually came out on top in Las Vegas and won his fourth consecutive world title. It comes after multiple clashes on track with his good friend Lando Norris, yet the relationship between Verstappen and Norris did not suffer, but much of the British press thinks otherwise.
Verstappen doesn't have an issue with separating the battles on track with what happens afterwards. "Some people don't have that mentality, they just see everyone as the enemy. I'm definitely not like that. I don't need to play mind games. I don't need to put myself in a state of having to hate everyone. Honestly, I just don't care. I just live my life," he told The Times.
Verstappen won't be fooled
The British media seemed to be conducting a smear campaign against Verstappen this season: Whereas Lando Norris was protected every time, the Dutchman was often the bogeyman. Verstappen has learned to deal with criticism. For instance, he cannot handle the British whining that Verstappen does not take F1 seriously if he participated in a sim race the night before.
That happened to the champion in Hungary, where he participated in an online 24-hour race and the Grand Prix. The latter did not go as desired, due to a lacklustre RB20 from Red Bull Racing. But the venomous Brits forgot about the latter for a moment and aimed their arrows at Verstappen, especially the ever-partisan Damon Hill.
"Even if you went out the night before, nobody would say anything, as long as you win. That's hugely irritating because I know what I can and can't do. That was just stupid, people don't know how I approach things and how prepared I am," Verstappen said.
This article was written in collaboration with Ben Stevens.
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