Verstappen's manager: 'Otherwise the win would have been there'

Max Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen is also part of the 26-year-old Red Bull Racing driver's success. Vermeulen has been the person guiding Verstappen from the very beginning, and so Vermeulen himself is logically also hugely pleased with our compatriot's third world title in a row.

"Unbelievable. Bit of mixed feelings that it was on a Saturday, but we are happy to have it," Vermeulen said of the fact that Red Bull already has a party to celebrate a day before the Grand Prix, but of course still has to perform on Sunday. After world titles in 2021 and 2022, 2023 is also in the books for Max. "Number three is obviously not normal," he said.

Verstappen fights back

Verstappen started third in the 100km sprint race, but fell back to fifth. The drivers behind him had an advantage on the softer softs. "You see that red tyre was faster at the beginning, the medium tyre came in later," he said. Verstappen still fought his way back to P2, but came up short because of three safety cars. "We didn't come out nicely with the safety car out, otherwise the win would have been there. P2 fine, we'll take it."

Vermeulen also hopes Verstappen will continue to dominate in the king class of motorsport in 2024 and 2025 (and in the seasons that follow). "I hope it lasts for a very long time," he said.