Max Verstappen says the stress is just not on him within the championship struggle however on the 2 McLaren drivers, the place there’s a possible distraction in battling one another heading into this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Lando Norris leads Oscar Piastri by one level with 4 rounds remaining, whereas Verstappen is 36 adrift of Norris after a current robust run of type by which the Dutchman has scored three victories and three additional podiums up to now six races. Verstappen says his performances and talent to get again into the struggle already make the 12 months successful, and means he has nothing to lose nevertheless the ultimate races play out.
“For me there isn’t a stress,” Verstappen stated. “Even when I do not win it, I nonetheless know that I drove a very good season. I can fortunately say that to attempt to replicate the season that I’ve carried out with folks on the grid, I believe it will likely be very robust.
“You simply should be sensible within the possibilities that we had all through the season. To nonetheless be speaking about being on this struggle is already exceptional within the first place.
“For certain, it has to do with the turnaround of the group. They by no means gave up and that is the power of the group. However, I believe while you’re over 100 factors behind and nonetheless we’re speaking about being on this struggle, it’s totally spectacular.”
With the 2 McLaren drivers within the lead, Verstappen says the actual fact they’re combating one another in addition to him will be to his benefit, though he’d quite have the efficiency benefit that Norris and Piastri have had for almost all of the season.
“For certain, the distraction possibly is a bit bit there at McLaren between the 2 drivers, however on the similar time, they nonetheless have a really quick automotive,” he stated. “So when you would inform me what I want to have, give me the distraction. I do not care anyway. Simply give me the quickest automotive and I am going to drive it as quick because it must be.
“It may be good for me, however on the similar time, we simply have to make it possible for we’ve got a sooner automotive. We should be forward of them. It is so simple as that.”
Verstappen additionally sees Mercedes and Ferrari doubtlessly having roles to play if both group will be significantly aggressive at an upcoming venue, as he feels Pink Bull will want one weekend the place he can shut the hole by a big margin.
“Initially, we additionally should be sooner than them to the tip of the season to shut the hole down,” he stated. “So we’ll see. We had some good rounds the place the hole got here down. However now to the tip with 4 races, it is nonetheless a reasonably large hole. I would like to attain much more factors each single weekend, which isn’t that easy.
“I imply, when you would give me the 2023 season with how all the pieces was and also you inform me I am 36 factors behind with 4 races to go, I am like, ‘Yeah, no downside. Simple.’ However this season, after all, has been a bit bit completely different.
“So it comes all the way down to us optimizing all the pieces and nailing the weekend. And apart from that, in all probability we want a bit little bit of luck at one spherical to create an even bigger offset. However we’ll give all of it. And if that is going to be sufficient on the finish of the 12 months, I do not know. However there’s additionally not a lot to lose. I imply, worst case we’ve got P3, and finest case you may win a championship.”
