A month ago, Verstappen defended the Driver of the Year title in Japan.
That night, he spent five minutes sitting down with those closest to the team, opening a beer and reflecting on his experience defending his title.
Other than that, there's no more time to celebrate. He had already planned to fly home so he could spend as much time as possible with family and friends before the next game in Austin, USA.
Drivers don't usually dwell on success and always focus on what's next: the next lap can only be better than the last. But in those five minutes, Verstappen gave himself a chance to enjoy it to the fullest.
An unparalleled season
This season has been an unparalleled one for Verstappen. From low to high, one championship after another, constantly breaking records.
He has so far won 14 races, breaking the record for the number of single-season championships in F1 history;
He has now scored 416 points, breaking the all-time record for single-season points in F1.
"It's been an incredible season and as a team we didn't expect that to happen. We were competitive at the beginning of the season, but withdrew twice in three games. To defend the drivers' title, this is clearly not the best start. ”
"But after that, we have changed a lot, constantly working hard and constantly improving the car – that's the most important area. That is why we are where we are today. ”
"As a team, we rarely make mistakes. You can't be perfect, but in most games, we're close to perfection. ”
Honda's cooperation
Between 2014 and 2020, Red Bull did not win any championships for drivers and teams of the year. But the team's framework hasn't changed much, and with the new rules for the 2022 season, they have built a powerful car that will allow them to win the driver and team double for the first time in nine years.
In addition to the car itself, the power unit is also an important factor. Despite the transformation of the previous Honda team into Red Bull Powertrain into a new division with huge investment, Honda continues to play an integral role. It is their continuous progress that gives Red Bull the courage to fight to the end.
"The partnership with Honda is incredible, they deserve everything and we ended up defending our title on their track."
"Thank you to the whole team, the people in the factory, to the people in the powertrain department. They've been working at their all, and no one is short of motivation – that's what I'm happy to see. ”
Red Bull is a second home
Of course, Verstappen himself is the most critical factor in success. After joining the team in 2016 and winning the race on his debut, he has gradually demonstrated his talent and ability to become a great driver in the years since.
But he knew it was not just about him, but about the people around him and everyone working toward the same goal.
"Red Bull is my second home and they were already world champions before I joined. We were a little difficult at first, but I always believed in this project. Our whole team, including the team that designs the cars in the factory and the powertrain department, we have a great group of people who I think can be successful for quite a long time. ”
"We want to make sure we find the right people and get them in the right places. The previous Honda and the current powertrain division have worked together fruitfully over the past few years, which is why we have gone from missing a championship to completing a qualitative change. ”
Growth, a two-time champion
Verstappen's two annual titles are a completely different experience. Last year, he beat Hamilton on the final lap to complete his coronation; And this year, after a poor start, he went all the way to secure the title early.
"The first championship is full of mixed feelings because you realize that you have achieved everything you want to achieve in this sport."
"The second title, judging from the season we've been through, could be even more rewarding. It's a completely different feeling, and I think it's good, if it's all the same, it would be a little boring. ”
'Every year you grow, every game every season you learn a lot and you try to improve yourself.
"In terms of sheer speed, I don't think there will be an improvement, but based on past experience, you try to play as much as possible, and in some tricky situations, sometimes it can help you out of trouble, because that's the experience you have."
future
Verstappen is only 25 years old at the moment and he still has a long way to go in F1 in the future. His current contract with Red Bull runs until the 2028 season, and the relatively stable rules for the next few years and Red Bull's strong momentum suggest they can continue to be competitive.
"I don't expect to drive until I'm 40 because I have other things I want to do. But what I do now makes me happy, I signed until 2028 and have a few years left on my contract. After that, I might try some different types of races because it's important to experience different things, and of course it all depends on how things go then. ”
"Numbers are never important, I just really enjoy moments like this. I've really enjoyed being part of the team, it's been a long time and hopefully even longer in the future. ”
"With these people we have now, I believe we can stay strong for years to come."