Verstappen snipes at 'unappreciative' fans: 'Just jealous of success'
F1 News
The past four years have certainly proved Max Verstappen is a force to be reckoned with, not just for his rivals in F1, but also for pundits and fans alike, who in the Dutchman's words 'don't appreciate him'. In an interview with The Guardian, Verstappen sends a message to them.
On the eve of the start to the season Max Verstappen addressed the reason behind the critics that at every turn look to undermine his accomplishments in Formula One. The Dutchman, as usual, was nothing but sincere. "They’re just jealous. Jealous of success," he said to The Guardian.
"My dream was to get to F1 and be successful. I’ve achieved that and people that can’t appreciate that, they’re jealous. So that’s fine for them," continues Verstappen. "But it’s not correct, because jealousy doesn’t bring you anywhere in life. I don’t do it for the people, I’m not there to please people that don’t appreciate me."
'I do whatever is needed to win'
Verstappen's aggression on track is one of the motivating factors that prompt his critics to take the floor and lash out at the Dutchman. His opinion? "I do whatever is needed," the Dutchman states. “I try to always go for it when I think it’s right to do so. It’s just how I am. I will always go for it when I think it’s possible, whatever other people call it. You might agree with it or not but I just battle the way I think I need to battle.”
In conclusion: “I don’t tell you or someone else how they should live their lives or what they should do in life. Everyone should just focus on themselves. I think my behaviour is good. If someone else disagrees, that’s their problem. It’s not my problem, is it?”