Verstappen: "I hope this was just the beginning"

Max Verstappen says he does not think back much to the last lap in Abu Dhabi. On this all-decisive lap, the Dutchman managed to overtake Lewis Hamilton to secure his first world title.

In an interview on RedBull.com Verstappen talks about the last race lap of 2021. During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Dutchman had the perfect opportunity to overtake rival Hamilton for the title after a safety car. On fresher and softer tyres, Verstappen took his chance at the first opportunity and passed Hamilton.

Verstappen drove with cramp

Verstappen says he doesn't think back on that last lap. He did, however, look back at the photos of the race. After the race, the Red Bull Racing driver went on vacation and talked less about Formula 1. He was mostly recovering from the tough Formula One season.

Verstappen was asked about his perspective of the last lap, "I suddenly had a cramp in my right calf, but at a moment like that you forget everything. It was the moment I had worked towards all my life."

Longer with Red Bull

Although Verstappen has achieved his life goal with this, he says he's not done with Formula One yet. "I hope this was just the beginning," he says. For now, the 24-year-old driver doesn't seem to be stopping. Indeed, on March 3, Verstappen signed a new contract that will keep him at Red Bull in Formula 1 until at least 2028.