Verstappen: People who criticise me crossing the line don’t have a champion mentality

Max Verstappen has insisted he’ll maintain crossing the road racing in Method 1 if he has to and urged those that don’t perceive do not need the “world champion mentality”.

After a dominant begin, Verstappen and Purple Bull got here beneath strain from McLaren and Ferrari in 2024 and the Dutchman was challenged for the drivers’ title by Lando Norris all through the second a part of the season.

That translated into on-track skirmishes in Austria after which in Austin and Mexico, with Verstappen handed two 10-second penalties in Mexico Metropolis for shoving Norris off the observe.

Whereas fuelling additional discussions over F1’s racing guidelines, Verstappen acquired a barrage of criticism from McLaren, followers and media.

However reflecting on his 2024 marketing campaign, Verstappen says he has no regrets as a result of he feels it is necessary in F1 to cross the road at instances. In an end-of-season interview with Dutch F1 broadcaster Viaplay, Verstappen was reminded of McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s feedback in Mexico that “Max is such an superior racing driver, I simply do not assume it’s essential to drive like that”.

Responding to Brown’s feedback and the final backlash he confronted on his driving behaviour, the reigning, four-time world champion stated: “Sure, however they don’t have the world champion mentality. I’ll at all times go to the restrict to get probably the most out of each race and if I’ve to pressure it, then that’s simply the way it goes. Typically it’s a must to cross a line. Effectively, I do.”

Requested whether or not he has any regrets over how he edged Norris in direction of the wall in Mexico, he stated: “No, in no way in that race. I believe I gained factors there.

“So like I stated, I’ll at all times do all the things to get the utmost end result for a championship. And naturally, generally it’s a must to go to the restrict or over the restrict and never everybody understands that. Not everybody has that mentality.”

Verstappen added the Mexico fallout, in addition to McLaren’s half-hearted use of group orders, have been some examples of McLaren’s relative lack of expertise in combating for championships, stating Norris might have crushed him to the drivers’ title because the group “completely” missed alternatives.

“They’ve had an excellent automotive this yr,” he stated. “However I believe it is also clear that they nonetheless had lots to be taught, so to talk, to actually continuously compete.

“After all, they did properly for the constructors’ championship, however they may have ready a lot better for the drivers’ championship.”

Further reporting by Laurens Stade