Max Verstappen says he doesn’t listen to criticism about his Formula 1 racing conduct at the Mexican Grand Prix, asserting that “I know what I’m doing”.
The Red Bull driver faced numerous questions in the aftermath of the Mexico race, in which he was penalised twice for incidents involving title rival Lando Norris – ultimately adding up to a 20-second drop at his first pitstop.
Verstappen was accused of “Dick Dastardly stuff” by 1996 F1 champion Damon Hill on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Hill adding that the Dutchman had “let himself down” with his Mexico manoeuvres.
Asked if had any response to Hill’s comments, Verstappen tersely responded: “I don’t listen to those individuals. I just do my thing. I’m a three-time world champion, I think I know what I’m doing. I have my opinions, but I don’t need to share them.”
Explaining the situation from his perspective, Verstappen stated that it was simply a ‘win some, lose some’ incident and that he was simply attempting to ensure he kept hold of a good result.
“I think it’s just you win some, you lose some. That’s how it is in racing in general,” he said.
“I like to win. I don’t like to lose. I think not many people like to lose. I just tried to maximize the result and, like I said, some you win, some you lose.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Speaking on the subject of those whom he was willing to take advice from, Verstappen said that he had no problems with objectivity and people in the paddock who were not simply willing to stir things up.
He also elaborated on his feeling about the current racing rules situation, reiterating his standpoint that it was probably overregulated and that there would never be the perfect quantity of rules governing drivers’ etiquette on track.
“I think it’s not that straightforward, clearly even between how many seconds [of time penalties] that you get. Like I said before, sometimes they work for you, sometimes they work against you.
“I think it’s never going to be perfect because even if you remove rules, then you get into a battle, then you want more rules because it’s not clear what is allowed or not. Then when you have too many rules, you want less rules. It just keeps on going left and right all the time.
“Do I think it’s overregulated? Probably yes. In general, the rulebook is only getting bigger and bigger every single year. I don’t think that’s always the right way forward.
“[I listen to] people that are objective and close to me and not just there to stir [things up]. Some people are just being very annoying. I know who these people are, although I don’t really pay a lot of attention to them anyway.
“I think I’ve got to this stage in my career with the right people supporting me and making my own decisions.
“[These are] good people with a good heart from the outside. The most important thing is that I know [who they are]. Some people are just a bit biased and I mean, I get it, it’s fine.
“But it’s not my problem at the end of the day. I just continue with my life and I keep performing.”
