Max Verstappen admitted to feeling a mix of pride and relief after clinching his fourth world title in Las Vegas where the Red Bull driver finished fifth.
While the Dutchman’s dominance in the early races suggested another runaway year, Verstappen faced unexpected challenges that tested his resilience and the team’s mettle.
The 62-time Grand Prix winner stormed through the first half of the season with seven wins in the opening ten races, showcasing Red Bull’s seemingly invincible form.
However, the tide shifted as a resurgent McLaren, led by a Lando Norris, emerged as a formidable contender. Norris capitalized on his maiden victory in Miami and carried his momentum into the summer break, narrowing the gap in the standings.
At the same time, Red Bull’s RB20 regressed, forcing the team onto a rough patch and prompting Verstappen to acknowledge the mounting difficulty of retaining both championships.
"It's been a long season, and of course we started off amazing – it was almost like cruising, but then we had a tough run," Verstappen said as he reflected on his eventful campaign.
"But as a team, you know, we kept it together. We kept working on improvements, and we pulled it over the line. I'm incredibly proud of everyone, what they have done for me.”
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Achieving his fourth title marked a personal milestone for Verstappen, who admitted the journey had not been as straightforward as past triumphs.
"To stand here as a four-time world champion is of course something that I never thought was possible. So, yeah, at the moment just feeling relieved in a way, but also very proud,” he added.
"It was a very challenging season. I think also as a person, at times, it's very challenging and I had to be calm.
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"I think in a way, I still preferred last season; I enjoyed that a lot, but I think this season definitely has lessons that I'm very proud of. We handled it also as a team so, in a way, that makes it also very special and a beautiful season."
The jubilant Dutchman also expressed gratitude to his fans and the Red Bull team for their unwavering support during the difficult middle phase of the season, when victories became scarce.
"It's always amazing to see them everywhere supporting me; I think they got a bit spoiled last year with all the wins,” he said.
“So they had to wait for a long time in the middle of the season, but incredible support always.
"To the team, what can I say? We have been through a lot together and all these highs that we are achieving right now – it is just very special to do that with all the group of people that we have here at the track and back at the factory.
“They're continuously pushing flat out to give me the car to fight for a title, and to do that four times in a row is very special."
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Looking ahead, Verstappen is already setting his sights on a fifth title but expects an even more competitive grid in 2025.
"If you look at next year right now, I think it's going to be a proper battle between a lot of cars,” he insisted. “But yeah, I'm hungry, of course.
“I'm going to enjoy this, but there are still two more races that I want to do well at the same time, and then of course we take a little break and then we try and go at it again next year.”
As the dust settles on another triumphant season, Verstappen remains a dominant force in Formula 1, with both the hunger and the skill to continue building his legacy.
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