Verstappen had a different season: 'That just wasn't possible'

Max Verstappen had to work hard to finish the world championship as its winner in 2021, and in the title fight with Lewis Hamilton, the Dutchman noticed that other things suddenly came into play. He is therefore happy that the season is over, he told Ziggo Sport.

Verstappen has been in a Red Bull car since 2016, but in no season before this has he actually managed to make things difficult for Mercedes. While the Austrian racing stable took victories in a number of races each season, they failed to beat Hamilton when it came down to a whole season. That was not the case this year, however.

The Dutch driver was finally able to compete with a car that was equal to the Mercedes car this calendar year. Until the last race both drivers kept it exciting, and Hamilton and Verstappen even travelled to Abu Dhabi with an equal number of points, after which Verstappen eventually booked victory.

"Last year I had races where I wasn't tired at all afterwards and where I felt I had just driven around a bit," Verstappen said of the season. "This year we have been full throttle every race, from the first lap until the end of the race. Even without tyre management, because that just wasn't possible. Then suddenly the race is a lot harder."