Max Verstappen at Mexico City GP: Image credit: RacePictures

Verstappen disagrees with Marko's 'lost interest' in F1 claim

00:19, 24 Oct

Updated: 01:16, 24 Oct

byLuke-John Buckle

Max Verstappen disagrees with Helmut Marko's assessment that the four-time Formula 1 world champion lost interest earlier this season.

"No, I don't [agree]... even if I'm fighting for P4 or even a P9, I will always try to get the best out of it."

- Max Verstappen

Verstappen is chasing his fifth consecutive Formula 1 world championship this season and is on a great run of form. The Red Bull driver has won three of the last four Grands Prix.

The Dutchman has also driven in other categories, such as GT3s. At the Nordschleife, Verstappen won on his debut in NLS driving the Ferrari 296 GT3 alongside teammate Chris Lulham.

He explained ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix that his interest in F1 hasn't faded at any point this season.

Verstappen said to the media: "No, I don't [agree]. Of course it's more enjoyable coming to the race weekends like this, knowing that you don't have a chance to win.

"But I know for myself that when I sit in the car, I will always try to maximise everything that I have, and I give it everything. So even if I'm fighting for P4 or even a P9, I will always try to get the best out of it.

"I will be happy or not happy with certain results. And allowing me to do other stuff, this has been planned already for a long time, so it's not that this has suddenly come on the radar, because these things have to be planned well in advance, and the preparation for it as well.

"So that it allowed me this year to compete myself in real life, that was the first opportunity, but I've been doing this also offline a lot, even racing during F1 weekends online, so there's nothing really that has changed in terms of how professional I approach my race weekends."

Max Verstappen at COTA. Photo: RacePictures

Verstappen has dominated at Mexico City in the past

Verstappen is closing the gap to the McLaren drivers in the world championship standings and is now just 40 points behind Oscar Piastri.

Just five Grands Prix are remaining, as well as two Sprints, which provide Verstappen with extra opportunities to close the gap.

At the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Verstappen has performed admirably. The four-time world champion has taken a record five victories.

This track has been a happy hunting ground for Verstappen and may allow the Dutchman an opportunity to continue his good form.

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