A relieved Max Verstappen appeared at the official FIA press conference following his victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix. The three-time world champion was able to add a whopping twenty-six points to his tally in Brazil, putting him in high spirits. After facing criticism in recent weeks, he made a witty remark: “Where has all the British press gone?”
“I want to thank you all very much for coming,” Verstappen told the journalists in the press room. “But I do have one question: where has all the British press gone? Did they all have to go to the airport?” Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly appreciated the joke. They also joined the press conference after their surprising podium finishes for Alpine.
Max Verstappen Triumphs Amidst Criticism
In recent weeks, Max Verstappen has faced a barrage of criticism from the British press. Journalists and former racers lined up to criticize the Dutchman for his controversial duels with title rival Lando Norris. In São Paulo, Verstappen coolly dispatched his McLaren rival, although it required a spectacular comeback; during the qualification, he — including grid penalty — did not get further than seventeenth place.
‘Balance was good’
“After the qualification, I wanted to smash the entire garage,” he explained. “Fortunately, the race started very strong. In the open air, I noticed that I was the fastest, which was very encouraging. The car had a good balance. Besides, I always feel comfortable in the rain, although it was also nice to know that the car is good in general.”
Championship Prospects
With the championship in mind, Max Verstappen can also be satisfied. After the São Paulo GP, his lead over Norris is sixty-two points. “This race was incredibly important; I honestly expected to lose points again today,” he admitted. “Now I just want to keep scoring as well as possible and drive clean races. The past few weeks have been very tough, and today it didn’t look like we would win the race. Fortunately, our perseverance is our greatest strength. Hopefully, we will be just as competitive in the future.”
