Max Verstappen Discusses His “On the Limit” Racing Philosophy

Currently in Las Vegas, Max Verstappen is discussing the strategy that has positioned him on the verge of securing his fourth world championship, following his victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, the Red Bull driver stated, “I know on track if you want to win, if you want to be a champion, you do need to be on the limit.” This single statement, according to the article, encapsulates Verstappen’s season and, indeed, his fundamental approach to Formula 1. The fourth championship could be clinched by Verstappen late on Saturday night amidst the illuminated streets of Las Vegas. This will occur if he finishes ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris or if he maintains a points advantage of no more than two over the British driver. He commented, “Of course the championship is in the back of my mind, naturally. But I will always try to get the best result out of it first and then see what’s possible.” This consistent methodology has characterized his management of the championship season, during which both Verstappen’s and Red Bull’s performance have experienced considerable fluctuations. Prior to the season’s commencement, the team faced significant internal issues. A female employee brought sexual harassment allegations against team principal Christian Horner, leading to ongoing conflict between Horner and Verstappen’s father, Jos, throughout the year. Horner has denied these claims, and two internal investigations have exonerated him. Concurrently, several key personnel, including renowned design figure Adrian Newey, have departed from the team. On the track, Verstappen began the year with a commanding performance. However, McLaren subsequently demonstrated superior speed from the summer period onward, coinciding with a dip in Red Bull’s performance. Norris had been steadily reducing Verstappen’s lead until the Dutchman dramatically reclaimed momentum with an impressive win from 17th position on the grid in a rain-soaked Brazil earlier this month. Furthermore, a controversy arose concerning Verstappen’s racing tactics on track, specifically his defensive maneuvering against Norris in Austin during October. Despite these challenges, Verstappen has maintained remarkable consistency. In contrast to errors made by McLaren and Norris, Verstappen’s season has been nearly flawless. He stated, “I always demand a lot from myself. I always try to get the best possible result out of it. I hate making mistakes. I put that pressure on myself every weekend. If you want to win a championship, you cannot afford bad results.” During the United States Grand Prix last month, both Max Verstappen and Lando Norris went off track while competing for position. Throughout the discussion, Verstappen presented his views comprehensively and informatively, particularly shedding light on the issue that was prominent in two significant races in Austin and Mexico last month. Although Norris received a penalty in their contest for the lead in Texas, numerous other drivers considered Verstappen’s defensive maneuvers to be unacceptable. This situation prompted a discussion in Mexico involving the drivers and the sport’s governing body, the FIA. The outcome was an accord to modify the regulations, seemingly targeting Verstappen, who has consistently utilized a defensive strategy of maintaining the inside line and compelling competitors off the track upon corner exit, a maneuver sometimes referred to as a “dive-bomb defence.” Typically hesitant to discuss tactical approaches, he now spoke candidly. When asked if he felt he was being specifically targeted, he responded: “Honestly, even if they would have done or did, first of all I don’t care because I drive to what I think is possible and what is allowed in the rules. And if the rules are written like that, I will use the rules.” He continued, “If that would have happened to me the other way around, I don’t think I would have been the person to complain so hard because I would just think, ‘OK, if that’s the rules, that’s how we do it’ instead of screaming that we need to change the rules.” The regulation he adhered to—which many of his competitors advocate for changing—stipulates that if a driver on the inside line is ahead at the corner’s apex, they are not obligated to provide space for the driver on the outside upon exit. Verstappen indicated his own disapproval of the rule but conceded that he would never willingly allow an opponent space on the outside of a corner. He remarked, with a chuckle, “Well, me personally, I don’t race like that. When I race with someone, he will not be able to overtake me around the outside. That’s how I grew up racing.” He added, “Some drivers are just a bit more passive in racing, that’s just how they are. And I know that in F1 I can’t hang it around the outside because they will push me off. It’s a racing instinct.” This raises the question of how a competitor is expected to attempt an overtake against him. “It depends on the track layout,” Verstappen explained, aligning with the opinions of other drivers who suggest that extensive asphalt run-off areas encourage this type of racing due to the absence of penalties for exceeding track limits. He elaborated, “Of course when the track is naturally the limit, no-one tries to go around the outside because they know that, so you then try to go for the cut-back or set yourself up in a different way.” Jos Verstappen (left) and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner (centre) were photographed together during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, despite their relationship having been less cordial earlier in the season. Ultimately, the debate surrounding Verstappen’s tactics was short-lived, although it has been a recurring topic since his championship battle with Lewis Hamilton in 2021. The off-track circumstances at Red Bull posed a potentially greater threat, with Verstappen positioned amidst a disagreement between his father, Jos, and Horner. Jos Verstappen had previously expressed concerns that the team would disintegrate if Horner remained in his position. Max’s ability to manage this situation with such composure, particularly while the team’s competitive performance was simultaneously declining, highlights his strong character. Verstappen stated, “What has always been very important is that I had a good relationship with Christian and my dad.” He continued, “My dad of course thinks about me and has the best interests for me – what I want to do and how I am in the team.” “He of course had his questions but at the same time I was always very busy dealing with the performance of the car and trying to make that better. But at the end of the day, he could see that now everyone is normal, everyone is dealing with it and focusing on the performance side of things.” “People do not need to be best friends, they don’t need to go on holiday together. But I feel like you can have a normal working relationship, which I feel is the case absolutely, and especially lately it is going much better.” He also mentioned, “But I always said as well, when you have problems with each other, you’re not happy with something, you talk, you communicate, right? You speak to each other and that’s always way better than throwing something