Max Verstappen says his three Components 1 drivers’ championships present he is aware of methods to race following criticism of his driving forward of this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The stewards gave Verstappen two 10-second time penalties for his driving in Mexico Metropolis, the place he twice was deemed to have compelled Lando Norris off observe. Following feedback from 1996 world champion Damon Hill that one of many strikes amounted to “foolish driving,” Verstappen dismissed criticism from these he isn’t near.
“I don’t take heed to these people, I simply do my factor,” Verstappen mentioned. “I’m a three-time world champion. I believe I do know what I’m doing.
“I’ve heard [criticism of his approach] earlier than in my profession. It’s my tenth 12 months in Components 1. Some individuals are only a bit biased and I imply — I get it, it’s superb. But it surely’s not my downside on the finish of the day. I simply proceed with my life and I preserve performing.”
Verstappen says he does take onboard recommendation from individuals he trusts, however believes some pundits’ opinions are irrelevant given the variety of races and titles he has already gained.
“[I listen to] individuals which are goal and near me and never simply there to stir… I can’t say the phrase as a result of I’ll in all probability get one other [fine],” he mentioned. “Apparently it solely counts for me anyway, as a result of after the race in Mexico, somebody was swearing — I didn’t hear something from it! So, it’s higher I don’t swear once more.
“However some individuals are simply being very annoying and I do know who these individuals are. I don’t actually pay a number of consideration to them anyway and I believe I’ve obtained to this stage in my profession with the suitable individuals supporting me and making my very own selections. Yeah, so I believe I do know what I’m doing.”
After being penalized twice in Mexico Metropolis however seeing Norris decide up a penalty at Circuit of The Americas, Verstappen mentioned there isn’t a apparent repair to the state of affairs surrounding racing pointers and that there’ll all the time be debates over what’s or isn’t truthful.
“I believe it’s not that simple. Clearly, even between what number of seconds [penalty] that you simply get,” he mentioned. “So, typically they be just right for you, typically they work towards you.
“I believe it’s by no means going to be excellent as a result of even when you take away guidelines, then you definitely get right into a battle, then you definitely need extra guidelines as a result of it’s not clear what’s allowed or not. Then when you will have too many guidelines, you need much less guidelines. It simply retains on going left and proper on a regular basis.
“Do I believe it’s overregulated? In all probability sure. Normally, the rulebook is simply getting greater and larger each single 12 months, I don’t suppose that’s all the time the suitable means ahead.”
