Max Verstappen never minces words. In his own words, this is not to play mental games, but just to be honest. The same goes for when talking to Formula 1 Magazine the comment about McLaren in Japan is discussed.
There, Verstappen shouted that if he had been in a McLaren he would already be in Tokyo by the end of the race. Wasn’t that also intended to ‘tickle’ the competitor a bit?
Laughing: “That’s just a fact. I don’t say it to sting, not even consciously unconsciously, but that’s just how it is. It’s not that people have to agree with me, it’s my opinion. And if people don’t like hearing it, it’s not my problem.”
And then comes the repetition of his first statement: “I don’t say it to provoke anyone, I say it because I am asked about it, to which I simply answer. And yes, it is a fact.”
Later in the season, Verstappen would also say that, while the title battle was still open, he would have become champion in a McLaren for a long time. Lando Norris then called out that Red Bull is a team that is verbally aggressive and often shouts nonsense.
The next question is whether the drivers ever discuss what is said among themselves. Verstappen answers in the negative. “Very little. There are usually microphones and cameras around and then I don’t feel like saying anything.”
