Here is the thing about Max Verstappen: the day he stops believing he is the absolute best driver on the grid is the day he walks away for good. According to Motorsport.com, the four-time world champion made his stance crystal clear when put on the spot before the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
"I always think so, otherwise, I'd stop!" he said when asked if he still rates himself at the top of the field. That unwavering self-belief isn't new, either. He traces that exact mindset all the way back to his debut season in 2015, when he stepped up with Toro Rosso at just 17 years old. Even then, knowing he had plenty to learn, he already carried the firm conviction that he had the potential to be the best.
It has been a bizarre campaign for the Dutchman. Red Bull entered its first year running its own power units built with Ford well off the pace, leaving him waiting until October for his first victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix (which shifted to Sepang after Sakhir was cancelled). Since then, he has added wins in Singapore and Mexico, climbing to second in the standings with a 17-point margin over Mercedes driver George Russell.
"I think I've just had a good season," Verstappen said of the year, pointing out the obvious truth that success in Formula 1 leans heavily on the machinery beneath you. "It's just that in Formula 1, you're also dependent on your car, of course. Lately, we've had things reasonably well sorted again. And then the victories come."
That raw speed and adaptability were on full display on Sunday at Interlagos. Starting 21st following an engine penalty, Verstappen carved through the field to finish second behind Lando Norris, despite dealing with a "night and day" handling shift once the team bolted on slick tyres. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies admitted that no simulation could have foreseen such a drive, noting that Verstappen was routinely beating the simulator's predictions.
It marked the third consecutive year that the Red Bull charger has battled his way onto the podium from deep on the grid at Interlagos. With only three races left, he has to defend that second place in the championship against Russell and Lewis Hamilton, while Red Bull also fights to keep McLaren behind them for third in the constructors' standings.
F1
F1
