Max Verstappen hails title as his best – and insists he is staying at Red Bull

Max Verstappen celebrated his fourth Formula One world championship, calling it his best one to date. Meanwhile, his team boss, Christian Horner, remarked that this title cements Verstappen's status among the sport's legends.

Verstappen reflected on the chaotic start to the season, particularly the drama surrounding Red Bull prior to the racing events in Las Vegas. "Things were a bit hectic at the start," he noted. "However, I tend to stay calm during such situations. It takes a lot to throw me off balance. My attention is firmly on the racing aspect, and I manage to block out everything else, whether it's good or bad. I simply concentrate on what lies ahead."

Horner referred to it as the driver's most remarkable achievement, and the Dutch racer agreed, expressing his satisfaction with securing the title even though McLaren was quicker for much of the season. "I'd say we weren’t the fastest car for about 70% of the season," Verstappen shared. "Yet we still managed to increase our lead. That's definitely something I take great pride in."

Verstappen secured his fourth title in a row by finishing in fifth place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which was claimed by George Russell from Mercedes. This achievement marked the end of a season that began with significant challenges for his Red Bull team.

Before the debut of their car, Horner faced allegations of improper conduct from a female staff member. An independent investigation later cleared him of these charges. However, the situation escalated when Verstappen’s father, Jos, urged Horner to resign, followed by the surprising announcement from their highly successful car designer, Adrian Newey, that he would be leaving the team.

Horner recognized that this season was the toughest of Verstappen's career, highlighting that he performed exceptionally well, particularly considering the challenges he faced.

"This victory is particularly significant, especially considering the challenges we've faced this year," Horner stated. "Max has achieved twice as many wins as any other driver. With two races remaining, he has already secured his title. He has clearly been the standout driver this season. His accomplishments firmly establish him among the legends of the sport. The statistics and his driving style leave no doubt about that."

Despite facing challenges, Verstappen remained concentrated on accumulating points. After clinching the championship in Las Vegas, he noted that he could potentially surpass the seven titles held by Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. His fourth championship now puts him on the same level as Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel.

"Even though our car wasn't the quickest on the track, we still managed to take home the victory," he stated. "I’m always committed to putting forth my best effort every time I get behind the wheel. Additionally, I've made significant progress as a driver over the past few years, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what we can achieve next year."

The topic of his future at Red Bull was also discussed. This year, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed interest in Verstappen, but the Dutch driver, who is signed with Red Bull until 2028, made it clear that he is not planning to leave, even amidst the challenges the team is facing. “I’m really committed to the team,” he explained. “During difficult periods, it’s tempting to walk away or pretend the problems don’t exist. However, I believe it’s much more crucial to confront those issues head-on and work through them together.”

Other drivers, including Hamilton, who came in second in Las Vegas, also recognized this achievement. “He’s really done an amazing job. He hasn’t slipped up at all and has consistently performed well and earned every point he could,” Hamilton commented. “He and his team have excelled once again, marking their fourth consecutive year.”

Lando Norris, who let go of his slim hopes for the championship, finished just behind Verstappen. His team, McLaren, is 24 points ahead of Ferrari and still has a chance to claim their first constructors' title since 1998. Norris acknowledged, "Max earned this victory; he had a stronger season than I did. He doesn't seem to have any flaws. When he’s in the best car, he completely dominates, and even when he isn’t, he’s still right in the mix."