Verstappen showed desperation in Japan but 'drove very calmly'

Max Verstappen himself called Japan one of his finest victories of 2023, and rightly so. In Japan, he managed to clinch the constructors' title on behalf of Red Bull, winning by almost 20 seconds. That still bothers the Dutchman himself.

"I was very keen to win there," Verstappen said in the year-end interview with Viaplay. He continued: "In Singapore, a new rule had come in, with those flexible front wings, that that was no longer allowed. But I knew we didn't have that. All season, I saw that a number of teams had that, but not us." Viewers immediately were sceptical: "Singapore obviously didn't go well at all for us and people said, 'Yes, that's because of that front wing.' Yes, just wait. You'll see in Japan that it's not. I also said to my engineer and Christian: 'In Japan we are going to finish everyone.'"

Although it was one of the best races for Verstappen, there was also a little disappointment for the world champion. "I said before lap 1, full on the limit," said Verstappen. He continued: "I said to the media in Singapore: 'We are going to win with a 20-second lead.' Well, that ended up being 19.3. I was very disappointed after the race because I drove that second stint very calmly, actually. Just not on the limit. In the end it ended up being 19.3 seconds. I was bummed about that."