Max Verstappen Blames Fans for Undervaluing His Dominant 2023 Season
Max Verstappen has hit back at critics and fans who he believes are undervaluing his remarkable achievements during the 2023 Formula 1 season. The Dutch driver, who dominated the year by securing his third consecutive World Championship title and breaking numerous records along the way, expressed frustration with the way some fans perceive his success, claiming that they fail to fully appreciate the scale of his accomplishments.
Verstappen’s 2023 season was one of the most dominant in Formula 1 history. With a record-breaking 15 race wins out of 22, he shattered several long-standing records, including most wins in a single season, surpassing the previous record of 13 set by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. His performance, both on and off the track, has been nothing short of exceptional, but according to Verstappen, many fans still fail to recognize just how difficult it is to achieve such dominance in a sport as competitive as Formula 1.
“I don’t think people truly understand what it takes to achieve what we’ve done this year,” Verstappen said in a recent interview. “It’s easy to overlook it when you win so often, but the level of commitment and the precision required to dominate a season like this is huge. I don’t think enough people give us the credit we deserve.”
Verstappen’s frustration stems from the perception that his success in 2023 has been too easy, with some critics suggesting that his Red Bull team’s performance and the car’s superiority over the competition have played a larger role in his success than his driving ability. While Red Bull’s RB19 car was undoubtedly one of the fastest and most reliable in F1 history, Verstappen is adamant that his personal skills and consistency were key to his record-breaking achievements.
“I hear people saying that the car is the reason for everything, but that’s just an oversimplification of what we’ve achieved,” Verstappen continued. “Yes, the car is fast, but I still have to drive it to the limit every weekend. There’s a huge difference between having a good car and being able to extract everything from it, and I’ve been doing that consistently. So it’s frustrating when people overlook that.”
Verstappen’s comments reflect the broader debate in the F1 community about the relationship between a driver and their car. While it’s true that a fast, reliable car is essential to success in F1, Verstappen points out that he has consistently outperformed his teammates, most notably Sergio Pérez, and maintained his dominance despite the pressure and challenges of racing against some of the sport’s best drivers.
One of the most common criticisms Verstappen faces is the notion that his dominant performances are the result of an uncompetitive grid. Critics have pointed to the struggles of other teams, particularly Ferrari and Mercedes, as evidence that Verstappen’s achievements are somehow less impressive due to the lack of competition. However, Verstappen believes this perspective is misguided.
“People forget that we’re racing against the best drivers and the best teams in the world,” he explained. “Just because the competition isn’t always as close as some would like, that doesn’t mean that what we’ve achieved is any less difficult or impressive. Formula 1 is still one of the most challenging environments in the world, and you still have to be at your best every single race.”
Verstappen also touched on the toll that such a dominant season can take, not only physically but mentally. The pressure to maintain such high levels of performance, particularly when expectations are so high, can be overwhelming. “It’s not easy to keep pushing like that for an entire season, race after race,” Verstappen said. “It’s exhausting, and at times it can feel like people are just expecting you to win, which is a lot of pressure. But we’ve managed to stay focused, and we’ve kept improving throughout the year, so I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Despite his frustration with certain sections of the fanbase, Verstappen remains committed to giving his best for both his team and the sport. He acknowledges that F1’s rapid growth in popularity means more scrutiny, but he’s confident that his record-breaking achievements will eventually be appreciated in the long run.
“In the end, I know what we’ve done. The numbers are there, the records are there. People will look back at this season and see how special it was,” Verstappen concluded. “I don’t need validation from people who don’t understand the sport or what it takes to be successful in it. I’m focused on my job, and I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished. Hopefully, over time, people will recognize just how incredible this season really was.”