The Dutch pilot considered that His last victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was one of the best of his career.and also compared it to the race that took place in the same place, but eight years earlier, in 2016, when he was in a very different position: “I had nothing to lose, I “I wasn't in the fight for the title, and I came from behind after a strategic error.”
However, in 2024, the stakes were much higher, as his title rival, Lando Norriswas in pole position: “It's definitely much more crucial than before, I had to drive in a more controlled way and be aware of the championship.”
SO, Max Verstappen He particularly highlighted the recent success, as he had to operate under greater pressure as reigning champion, even though both races “belong to the top ten”, although for the Dutchman it was on the circuit d 'Interlagos,' was definitely the best. “
Max Verstappen's quality in the rain comes from karting
Asked about his strength underwater, the reigning world champion cited his many years of karting experience as decisivebecause when he was young in the Netherlands, where there were wet conditions, he had to compete like this several times and learned a lot of skills as a result: “It's like karting back then.”
“Drivers who were good in the wet are also good in Formula 1 now, it's something you learn from a young age, we train a lot, I think where we come from it rains a little more than elsewhere,” he said. commented. “You go out, practice, get more comfortable and hone your skills to get better. I think you take that with you, you develop and improve, and then you use it to your advantage.”
Finally, the Dutchman took his first victory in five months at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which gave him even more importance: “I wanted to win again, the last races were difficult for us, and I asked “We knew why the others were much faster.”
The car also played its role this time for Max Verstappen
The team that dominated last season fell behind in the 2024 campaign and its drivers struggled to find performance. The Dutchman's poor position on the grid made him think that it seemed impossible for him to win.but he came back to second thanks to a red flag and finished the job for another victory.
“I was very motivated to have a good race and wait to see what happens, because in the rain crazy things can always happen,” explained Max Verstappen, who believes it was not just about his own performance, but also that of the car. “As soon as I had one or two free laps I was the fastest on track, I just had to try to pass the drivers to stay ahead, I felt comfortable in the car, in the wet, but the car also felt comfortable. “It wasn't going well.”
When asked when he thought he could win the race, he replied: “When I passed Esteban [Ocon]on the first curve. From then on I tried to take care of the tires because you never know what will happen in the end, the tire wear is always very high here, but I felt good, the car had balance, you just had to concentrate so as not to make any mistakes, because the track was still slippery.
Red Bull and his driver are waiting end the last campaign meetings on a positive note: “It's a big boost for the team because, to be honest, it was difficult, but it's also a big strength of the team to stay calm and just work on the performance and to try to improve our situation I am convinced that we can fight in the last three races, and that we are more competitive, especially on Sunday.
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