Verstappen is hard on himself: 'Today I just wasn't competitive'

It has happened several times in the past that when a driver becomes World Champion, he'll put the brakes on for the rest of the season. Lewis Hamilton has done that himself a couple of times. This year, however, the Briton will continue undisturbed and today he has achieved the 98th pole position of his career.

During the FIA press conference after qualifying, Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas were asked if there is anything they can do to stop the steam train called Hamilton. "I think, as Lewis is showing, he’s definitely one of the best drivers ever in Formula 1 but at the moment I don’t have the same, like, equal chances, let’s say it like that. That doesn’t take away anything from Lewis but yeah, I’m just pushing as hard as I can with the material I have and sometimes it’s closer, sometimes it’s a bit further away. Some races it looks pretty competitive. Today was less competitive," Verstappen told the press.

A perfect race

Bottas also says he tries everything to slow down his teammate. "I’ve tried my best and even though he’s got the title this year, knowing him from the previous years and how he is as a racing driver and how most racing drivers are – you’re here to win, you try everything you can – and I’m here to win as well. I know that starting from second on the grid, there’s all the opportunities but you need a perfect race. For sure, we’ll push hard and try and not give up," concluded the Finn.