Fifth world title in a row for Verstappen? ‘I don’t think about that at all’

• Louis Dekker

  Reporter Formula 1

“How difficult is it to prolong your world title? Do you think this will be your toughest season in that respect?” The questions from the British journalist to Max Verstappen are not that bad.

After all, the Formula 1 field seems to be even closer to each other than last year, but four-time world champion Verstappen has little appetite in an answer. The Dutchman is slightly stimulated.

“You let me think of a lot of things that I am not doing at all. I will just get in the car, trust my crew and then we will see,” Verstappen kicks off in Melbourne, Australia. This weekend the Formula 1 season starts there in which he can match the five titles of motorsport legend Juan Manuel Fangio.

Verdinated, Verstappen takes a verbal exit that gives the journalist a different answer than hoped. “Work hard on the track and beyond and things to improve the car that I don’t like. I just do my best, try to make as few mistakes as possible all year round and earn many World Cup points.”

The persistent wins, the reporter thinks and he tries again. “Will this be your most difficult year?” Hopeless mission. Verstappen is not so fond of the glass ball. “I don’t know. I don’t think about that. No. There is no reason to be busy with that now.”

It is also not easy to ask Verstappen fascinating questions. After the anniversary party ‘F1 75 ‘ Everything was said in London and the test days in Bahrain. The twenty drivers all have the same message as Australian Oscar Piastri: “What do you want me to say? We will see where we are in the qualification on Saturday. That is the first indicator,” said the Local Hero.

McLaren driver Piastri grew up close to the circuit in Albert Park and dreams of a home win in his third season. With that he would immediately take the lead in the World Cup. The double Grand Prix winner is slightly derived by its own dominant presence. “I hang everywhere in the city, I always come across myself. Life -size. The sponsors have done their job well.”

The official FIA press conference in Albert Park starts with a killer of the discussion leader. “Max, how are you and how is Red Bull Racing doing now that we are starting the first of 24 Grand Grix weekends?” Verstappen does not have to think about the answer. He has had this question dozens of times.

“It’s going well. How the team is doing? No idea. We see that next weekend and then. In the tests we found a few things that we will work with. We will continue to do that. Step by step. And this is a whole job than Bahrain, so it will feel different anyway.”

On the eve of the first race it is guessing to the pecking order, but insiders have calculated on the basis of test data that world champion McLaren starts as a favorite racing stable. Verstappen confirms the suspicion.

“I know that we don’t have the fastest car at the moment, but we have to be patient. Trying to win terrain back by making the car step by step more controllable. It will be a long year, but last season we have noticed how fast it can tilt.”

Whether the Race Down Under is a real indicator for power relationships is questionable. The whimsical weather in the state of Victoria can shake the field. On Saturday, dry and hot, Sunday cool and rainy. “The prediction changes every hour and that can make the weekend interesting,” Piastri outlines.

“It will be challenging. Whether we prevail? Well, everyone can still say that he will win. We hope that we will participate in the front and then we will see it on Sunday,” said public favorite Piastri, who extended his contract with McLaren earlier this week.

No more than logically the recent successes, he believes. “A no-brainer. All people with a key position have a long -term contract. I now too. “

British television then tries to fish again to Verstappen’s opportunities in Melbourne. “You have told Dutch media that you cannot participate in the battle for the victory here. Depends on the nature of this circuit? Or are you worried about the speed that McLaren has shown in Bahrain?”

Sky Sports gets an unusable answer. “Exactly that, yes! You just gave the answer yourself.”