Max Verstappen: Purple Bull F1 driver says social media ‘idiots’ make relationship with Lando Norris sound worse than actuality

Max Verstappen says “idiots” on social media made his relationship with Lando Norris over the 2024 F1 season sound worse than actuality.

Verstappen and Norris have been good associates off the observe since they met in karting over a decade once more however skilled their first title struggle in F1 this yr.

The pair clashed in Austria in June earlier than controversial incidents in Austin and Mexico Metropolis in October when Verstappen got here below growing stress to carry onto his championship benefit.

Verstappen went on to seal a fourth consecutive title after a shocking win in Sao Paulo, earlier than he completed forward of Norris on the Las Vegas GP the place he was topped champion.

“People always make it really a lot worse on social media. There are a lot of idiots on that platform that always have something to say, something to complain about,” Verstappen mentioned on Purple Bull’s podcast Speaking Bull.

“There are plenty of constructive folks, but in addition some correct idiots. I believe it is higher simply to disregard all of that.

“Lando and I, we bought on very effectively. After all, at instances it bought a bit tense on observe however off the observe, that should not matter. We at all times attempt to do the most effective we will on observe to get the very best end result.

“You’re fighting for the World Championship. I think it’s normal that these kind of things can happen, but we’re good.”

Verstappen reveals he almost ‘destroyed’ room forward of Sao Paulo GP

The day which outlined the title race run-in was the Sao Paulo Grand Prix as Verstappen stormed by means of the sphere from seventeenth to say his first victory in over 4 months, whereas pole-sitter Norris completed sixth.

Heavy rain meant Qualifying passed off on Sunday morning, previous to the race, and Lance Stroll’s crash on the finish of Q2 led to Verstappen not reaching Q3 as a result of unlucky timing of the yellow and crimson flags, and his five-place grid penalty for a brand new engine put him all the way down to the penultimate row of the grid.

“I was very upset with Qualifying. I wanted to destroy my room but I walked into my room and my dad was sitting there,” he mentioned.

“He was the calm one, very calm. I was so angry then I saw him so calm, that it actually calmed me down. I just walked in… when I think back about the day, I could really feel us in the office, when we were preparing for the race there were a lot of sad faces because you’re starting P17, your main rival is starting first, so it could be a massive points swing and we couldn’t really have that at that point of the championship.

“Everybody was fairly nervous however then it rained. It was a moist day. I jumped within the automotive. I wish to drive within the moist however you by no means know what is going to occur as a result of on the similar time you is perhaps taken out, otherwise you spin off the observe your self, as a result of it’s extremely troublesome.

“But then as soon as the race went under way, it was good, it was nice. I enjoyed it a lot. I felt good with the car. Step by step, driving to the front again. It was relief on the podium. As soon as I won that race I was like ‘that’s it’.”

Verstappen compares Brazil 2024 to Abu Dhabi 2021

Verstappen, who will do some snowboarding and sim racing over F1’s winter break, could have the chance subsequent season to affix Michael Schumacher on a document 5 consecutive titles.

His first championship was essentially the most controversial attributable to race director Michael Masi restarting the season-ending 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with one lap to go, solely letting the backmarkers in between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton by means of.

Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the ultimate lap of the season to come back out on high in an already contentious season and in contrast this yr’s race in Brazil to Abu Dhabi 2021.

“I wouldn’t want to relive Brazil because it was so emotionally draining that day that I cannot do that again. It’s the same as reliving my first title that day. I think that day I would die,” mentioned the four-time world champion.

“People that saw me that day, especially my girlfriend Kelly [Piquet]. She came into my room before the race and normally I’m not really that nervous. You’re just well prepared, and there might be some nerves that you want to do well.

“However she mentioned my fingers had been ice chilly. You actually do not need to relive these sort of moments. They’re wonderful to take a look at, however to not relive.”

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