Max Verstappen performed down his prospects of clinching a fourth consecutive drivers’ world championship at this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The Crimson Bull driver, who claimed a spectacular victory within the rain-hit Sao Paulo Grand Prix three weeks in the past, stated that triumph had not proved that every one his issues had been over after a winless 10-race run.
Chatting with reporters in Las Vegas, he stated it was not sure that he would win once more to take the 2024 title.
“For the time being, it is troublesome to inform as a result of if you happen to have a look at the previous few races within the dry in fact we did not have the tempo… It is not that, as a result of we received within the rain in Brazil, all of the sudden every thing is fastened and every thing is wanting nice once more.
“After all, it gave me place within the championship, but in addition I’ve to be real looking that we aren’t the quickest.
“I hope that we may be aggressive right here. It is nonetheless very unknown with the observe temperatures, in fact, and like final yr very chilly.”
The Dutchman leads McLaren’s Lando Norris by 62 factors within the title race with three Grands Prix remaining – and 60 factors out there on the ultimate two races.
This leaves Norris needing to beat Verstappen by three factors in Las Vegas to maintain his title problem alive.
“For me, the stress is from me as a result of I wish to do properly all the time, each single weekend,” stated Verstappen. “And it’s not essentially concerning the championship.
“I’m simply making an attempt to benefit from the weekend as properly and to see. How aggressive we may be. It isn’t determined but so there are nonetheless factors that we have to be scored.
“Actually, it’s about how fast I’m and the way good the automobile is greater than anything.
“In the previous few races, McLaren has been the quickest however final yr, Ferrari was very quick right here and it may be totally different yearly.
“Different groups have upgrades in comparison with the final time right here so it’s troublesome to say what can occur right here in the meanwhile.”
– Drivers ‘bit fed up’ with FIA –
Verstappen additionally expressed shock on the sudden departure of race director Niels Wittich.
The FIA stated on the eve of the Grand Prix that the German had left his position to “pursue new alternatives”, however Wittich stated he had been dismissed with three races remaining this yr.
Rui Marques has changed him.
“I feel everybody was very stunned to see that with three races to go,” stated Verstappen who added his assist to the Grand Prix Drivers’ Affiliation”s calls for for the FIA to deal with them “like adults” with larger session and transparency.
The drivers additionally requested for president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to “think about his personal tone and language when speaking to our member drivers, or certainly about them.”
“We simply wished to ship a letter to be sure that everyone seems to be conscious of our issues and what we wish to work on and we’ll see what comes out of that,” stated Verstappen.
“For the time being, nothing has occurred. I feel there was loads occurring with the FIA anyway that they needed to take care of – now we’ll see within the coming races and we’ll preserve participating.”
Mercedes’ George Russell stated the FIA had not responded to their open letter and admitted drivers, on the whole, had been “a little bit bit fed up with the entire scenario.
“Getting issues to alter, or guarantees upheld, appears barely more difficult,” he stated. “Perhaps the FIA or the president didn’t recognise how severely all of us felt.”
str/mw
