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Max Verstappen still has a mathematical chance of winning the world championship, but his deficit to leader Lando Norris grew again last weekend. The Dutchman knows the title will be difficult to secure, yet he remains broadly satisfied with his season. Looking back, though, he admits he went too far during the controversial moment in Barcelona.
Since the summer break, Verstappen had significantly closed the gap to the McLarens. After the Dutch Grand Prix, he stood on the podium at every race and claimed victories in Italy, Azerbaijan, and the United States. His title fight was alive again, but in the last two rounds Norris has been untouchable, extending the gap to 49 points.
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Before the summer break, Verstappen struggled, with Red Bull unable to unlock the full potential of the car. Verstappen also reached breaking point once. In Barcelona, he was ordered to give his position back to George Russell and responded with a heavy move that earned him a sizeable time penalty.
How Does Verstappen View His Season?
Verstappen remains pleased overall but recognises where he went wrong. Speaking to Viaplay, he said: “The only criticism point was obviously Barcelona. That whole incident wasn’t okay, but it happened because I care so much. I could have said, ‘The car isn’t doing anything, whatever,’ but that’s not how I’m wired.”
Honest as ever, he admitted: “I can’t accept it from myself if I get out of the car knowing I didn’t give everything. I get genuinely angry at myself. I just cannot drive at eighty percent.”
“Everything Went Red”
Verstappen accepts the frustrations built up during that weekend. “When I step out of the car, I need to be able to say I gave everything. That’s why I was angry — first with what happened on the straight during the restart, then in Turn 1, and then being told in my ear that I had to give the place back. At that moment, everything just went red.”
A Learning Moment
For Verstappen, Barcelona was an important lesson. “It was wrong, and you learn from it,” he said. “Moments like that won’t happen next year, even if the situation with the car is similar. These are the things you take with you. But overall, in terms of performance, the season has been absolutely good.”
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