Verstappen was nervous nonetheless: 'How often do you get that chance?'

Max Verstappen had to wait a long time for his first chance to win a world title, but at his first opportunity in 2021 he struck directly. The Dutchman admits at Formula1.com admits that he was a bit nervous when the moment came.

The first world title in F1

Although Verstappen is the youngest world champion after Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton at 24, he had to wait a long time for his first title. It was only in his seventh year in the sport that he won his first title. By comparison, after seven seasons in F1, Vettel already had three world titles under his belt.

''It’s always difficult to put a year on it! I never really thought about it too much. I mean, you need to have the opportunities, right? To drive for the right team or have the fastest car or at least have a car that is capable of winning races,'' says the Red Bull Racing driver who won ten races in 2021.

Excitement for Verstappen

With those ten victories, Verstappen won almost half of the available races and could finally really compete for the world title. The Limburger is therefore no longer worried. For some it takes longer than for others to get a chance at the title, but at least Max had a chance once.

Verstappen himself always remains calm, but he does indicate that things did change for him in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. ''It was tense – but at the same time I really was trying to enjoy myself – because how often do you have the opportunity to fight for a title? In the lead-up to the race, I was doing the normal things because you shouldn’t alter how you behave. If you’re always trying to do your best every weekend, then why would you change that for a title decider? But, on the Sunday, you’re a bit more nervous than normal,'' the Red Bull driver concludes.