As Max Verstappen inches closer to securing his fourth F1 championship, he has only one request for the remainder of the season: clean, incident-free races. Following his incredible win in São Paulo, where Verstappen took victory from an impressive 17th on the grid, the Dutch driver shared his hopes to avoid on-track incidents in the season’s final races.
After delivering a spectacular performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen expressed, “From now on, I just want clean races to the end of the season. I’m not thinking about clinching the championship in Vegas, or whatever. I just want clean races.” His victory was a significant achievement not only for him but also for Red Bull, as it boosted team morale and silenced critics who had questioned both Verstappen and the RB20’s recent performance.
However, McLaren’s Lando Norris had an interesting reaction to Verstappen’s request. Reflecting on recent races, especially the on-track clashes between the two drivers in the United States and Mexico, Norris couldn’t resist commenting on Verstappen’s call for clean races. Norris responded, “Max wants ‘clean races,’ huh? Well, maybe he should focus on keeping it clean himself – it goes both ways on the track.”
Verstappen’s win in São Paulo, his first in 10 races, was an extraordinary comeback, with 17 fastest laps in the rainy conditions and a remarkable 20-second lead over second-place finisher Esteban Ocon of Alpine. Verstappen’s request for a clean race strategy underscores his determination to maintain a smooth path to the championship, especially as he holds a strong 62-point lead over Norris with only 86 points left in contention.
Verstappen expressed confidence in his team’s resilience: “It’s been tough for us, but we kept pushing. Starting P17 didn’t look like we’d win again, so it’s an incredible result for us – a massive boost for the team.” With the season’s final races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, Verstappen remains focused on sustaining the momentum, stating, “I’m confident we can fight again, especially in the race. We’ll be more competitive.”
The anticipation for the next race in Las Vegas is high, with fans eager to see if Verstappen and Norris can indeed keep their battles clean as the championship heats up.
