Verstappen supports Masi: "Why drive another lap behind the safety car?

Max Verstappen understands why Michael Masi decided not to finish under the safety car. According to the 2021 World Champion, there was no reason to wait another lap. According to the 24-year old Dutchman, the track was completely clear. Verstappen doesn't seem to be too worried about missing out on the constructors' title.

"Well, everything was clear so why would you then run another lap behind the safety car?" said Verstappen in the FIA press conference after his victory at the Yas Marina Circuit. According to the Dutchman, there was no longer any reason not to race."It’s just when everything is clear you have to release the track so I think that’s a fair point from the race director. Of course, now it worked for me but it can also work against me, I know that."

Verstappen realistic about constructors' title

Verstappen took his first world championship in Abu Dhabi, but the constructors' title had to be left to Mercedes. The German formation managed to win the world championship for the eighth time in a row, a unique achievement. Verstappen would have liked to have delivered his team two titles, but ultimately he is also realistic.

"I think even when you talk to the team, they really wanted me to win this championship, but over the whole season we were not the quickest. So, then it’s natural that you can’t win the team championship. But we gave it all you know, we can’t be disappointed about anything because we really maximized a lot of our results," he concludes his story.

The gap to Mercedes in the championship was eventually 27.5 points after 22 Grands Prix. Sergio Perez's dropouts in the last two races, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, proved to be very costly in the end.