Max Verstappen snubs 2024 F1 title victory to name his favorite championship campaign
Despite winning the 2024 drivers' title in impressive fashion at Las Vegas, Max Verstappen deemed last year's championship to have his heart.
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Max Verstappen speaking (via Total Motorsport)
With the 2024 Las Vegas GP coming to a close, Max Verstappen sealed off the 2024 drivers’ championship with two rounds to spare. Despite him having to put up a stern fight to retain his lead in the drivers’ standings and having an entertaining time, Verstappen named his 2023 campaign as his favorite one of his four world titles.
Though Max Verstappen has won eight Grand Prix this season and has already taken the drivers’ title home, his 2023 campaign was from a different world altogether. The 27-year-old had won 19 races out of the 22 that were held last year. This showcased his hold over the F1 grid and how he was able to win races from seemingly out-of-orthodox positions.
Subsequently, after winning the championship in Las Vegas, when he was asked about his thoughts on his 2024 campaign, he reflected on how he still prefers his last dominant season.
It was a very challenging season, I had to be calm and in a way – I still prefer last season, but this season taught me a lot of lessons and I’m very proud how we handled it as a team.
Max Verstappen said in his post-race interview.
Verstappen: It was a very challenging season, I had to be calm and in a way – I still prefer last season, but this season taught me a lot of lessons and I'm very proud how we handled it as a team.
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) November 24, 2024
On the other hand, a rave is expected to break out in the Red Bull garage to celebrate Max Verstappen’s fourth title victory. This would be further aided by the team staying in Las Vegas for the race weekend and would have ample choices to have a party in the entertainment capital.
Max Verstappen’s next year with Red Bull might not be smooth sailing
While the Austrian giant would be happy with securing the driver’s title, this championship victory would not be able to cover Red Bull’s flaws in its 2024 challenger. With the next year being the last season before the regulation changes set in, the 2025 Red Bull challenger is expected to be a revised version of the current year’s car.
This might result in the prospected RB21 carrying the same underlying issues that the RB20 struggled with. Verstappen was aware of this issue and commented on the ordeal.
Of course, if you look at next year right now, it will be a proper battle between lots of cars. But I need to enjoy this, there are still two races to come and then we have a little break before we go back at it next year.
Max Verstappen said.
Max Verstappen: "All these highs we are achieving right now, it's very special to achieve with all the people here and back at the factory, it's very special."
— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) November 24, 2024
On the constructors’ side of things, the Milton Keynes-based squad is not expected to make a comeback. With each passing round, Red Bull is conceding further place in the constructors’ standings, which is further not aided by Sergio Perez‘s subpar performances. The Mexican only bagged in a solitary point over the Las Vegas GP weekend, making Red Bull’s case weaker every race weekend.
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Geetansh Pasricha
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