You're officially a three-time world champion. What does this mean to you?
Max Verstappen: It's fantastic. I am very proud of the team's work. I am happy to be part of this group. To be a three-time world champion is incredible.
To discover
- Formula 1: drivers' standings
- Formula 1: the calendar of the season
Did you think you'd ever achieve this?
It's something I could never have imagined. It's a great source of pride for me, for my family, for everyone I work with on the team. To be able to experience this all together is incredible. We always talk about performance, but to be able to experience that atmosphere and enjoy working with these people on a daily basis is even more important.
Where do you rank this title among the three you've won?
This title is the most beautiful. I think the first one was the most emotional because it was a dream come true in F1. But this one is the best because it was my best season, in terms of winning and because the car was incredible. It's the title I'm most proud of for my consistency.
When you drove the RB19 for the first time in February in Bahrain, did you think this car would take you to that third title?
It's hard to say. It's always looked good and with good balance, but you never know how other teams' cars will behave. We expected them to be closer to us in Bahrain and we were all very positively surprised, but it's still one circuit; But when we went to other circuits and saw that it was still as fast as ever, especially in the race, it was very promising.
Read alsoFormula 1: Is Max Verstappen already the greatest driver of all time?
Dreaming about the title doesn't get you anywhere, it's all the effort you put in to get there that matters.
Max Verstappen
At what point in the season did you think the title couldn't elude you?
Never until today! Of course, when I was on my way (to wins) and I saw that the gap was growing race after race... But I was just trying to stay focused and win weekend after weekend rather than dreaming of the title. Dreaming about the title doesn't get you anywhere, it's all the effort you put in to get there that matters.
Do you think you've raised your level even more this season?
I'm always looking to improve, but obviously I've also gained experience and that helps me to be faster. I've grown as a driver and as a person and when I compare it to my first season in F1, these aspects have helped me a lot, for example, to deal with situations where there is a lot of pressure or when the conditions are difficult.
How many titles do you hope to win?
I always want to win as much as I can but it will depend a lot on the car, that's how it works in Formula 1. So I'm enjoying the moment. I'm still young, even though I've been in F1 for a long time, so it will take me a few more seasons to reach my best level. We'll see. But I think the question is: how long would I like to be there? At some point, I'll say to myself, "I've had enough, I want to do something else." But that's not for now!
Do you realise that you have already left a mark in the history of F1?
I'm not in Formula 1 to leave a legacy or chase records. I'm here to win and have fun with those who make it happen because I never imagined it would be possible.
Interview at a press conference