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Verstappen not interested anymore: 'I don't care'
For Max Verstappen, the Formula 1 season cannot end soon enough. The Dutchman is tired after a gruelling year and jokingly compares himself to a bat. After his pole position in Qatar, Verstappen shared his disinterest for the rest of the season after having already wrapped up the title in Las Vegas last weekend.
The 23rd race weekend of the 2024 Formula 1 season showed that Verstappen's tank is pretty empty in Qatar. After winning his world title in Las Vegas, Verstappen wants to wind down and not worry about Formula 1 for a while.
''I think it's better not to talk about that,'' Verstappen stated when asked about the switch at McLaren between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the sprint race. ''You know, actually, it doesn't interest me that much. I think that's a better answer. Again, I could say something about it, whether I agree with it or not, but to be honest, it doesn't interest me.''
Verstappen was also disinterested in the constructor's title battle between McLaren and Ferrari. ''I'm done with that too. I don't care if it will be McLaren or Ferrari. It's not us in any case, that's quite clear.''
Verstappen refuses to comment on multiple talking points:
The Dutchman did not want to comment on the stories surrounding the FIA and the departure of Tim Mayer, the son of co-McLaren founder Teddy Mayer, either: ''I'm not going to comment on that either. There are a lot of people with links to people, to throw it on that. I don't feel like answering at all either. There will be stories of nothing again. Can't we talk about the food?''
Verstappen does not normally hide his opinion, but it was clear that the Dutchman no longer felt like worrying about the big questions or issues in the sport. Asked if he was tired, Max then stated: ''Well, with Vegas and now (Qatar) I'm kind of living in the dark all the time. It's a bit, I wouldn't say depressing, but I do need a bit of sunlight. I walk in the dark like a bat all the time.''
Fortunately for Verstappen, the season is almost over. Only one more Grand Prix in Qatar and then one more in Abu Dhabi, 'also in the dark', Max joked. After that, Verstappen may go home. He will leave the Abu Dhabi test to other drivers. ''I skipped that one for a while, someone else can fill that in nicely.'' The fact that Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are doing those tests also does not matter to Verstappen. ''Well, I wish them good luck. I'm not even going to watch.''
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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