Verstappen 'relieved' to secure fourth title early

Max Verstappen says his first emotion was relief when he crossed the line to secure the drivers’ championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Fifth place was enough for Verstappen in Las Vegas as he finished ahead of Lando Norris, confirming a fourth consecutive title with two rounds remaining. His first championship was won on the final lap in Abu Dhabi in 2021 before two that were certainties much earlier in the season, but the different nature of 2024 – when he raced into a comfortable lead early on but then had to defend it – evoked a different response for the Dutchman. “Every championship has actually been very different in emotions,” Verstappen said. “It will never top the emotions of the first one, because that is what you set out to do, and that’s your ultimate dream and goal to win one. So that was massive elation. “But then this season has been very different to the second one and last year’s one. And that’s, I think, very beautiful, because if they’re all fairly similar, that’s not as exciting. Honestly, when I crossed the line, I was just very relieved. I was like, ‘it’s over’. It’s been a tough run of races and I’m very happy that it rained in Brazil!” Verstappen knows he is likely to face an even more stern challenge in 2025 given the form in the second half of this year, but he says Red Bull’s response to adversity has been something that convinces him his success can continue. “What I know is that the team doesn’t give up. There are a lot of very competent people and I really enjoy working with them. I know it’s been tough for them as well, there was a lot of pressure on them this year. And when you come out of a season like last year, where basically we broke every record, and then at one point you start to struggle with the car and you don’t really seem to understand what is going on or what is going wrong. It’s important to remain calm and try to fix it. “Every person in the team has their own emotions that you have to deal with. So in a way, it’s also people management, because everyone reacts a little bit different to good results or bad results. But that’s something that I enjoy as well, because everyone has their own character, but we all have to work together to the same end goal. “I’m very proud of how everyone stuck together in those very tough races where we came out a bit lost. And then we got back at the factory, there were a lot of analysis going on, and just the response from that… I think when we went to Austin, after really understanding our issues from Monza, to see already an upturn in performance and a lot of ideas for next year . “A few things we couldn’t change anymore this year, so that is something for next year. And I just hope that that makes the car more drivable, in general more competitive. But I also, of course, know that the other ones are not sitting still. So next year is going to be a big battle, but even when you’re not the quickest, if you just keep maximizing those results, a lot is possible.”