Verstappen not talking about second title anymore: 'Different situation'

Max Verstappen took his second Formula 1 world title at the Japanese Grand Prix a fortnight ago. It was a special moment, but it still did not feel quite the same as his title victory in Abu Dhabi 2021. As a result, the Dutchman himself does not really talk about it anymore.

Everyone surely remembers it well, that final lap in Abu Dhabi where Verstappen managed to overtake title rival Lewis Hamilton for victory. The two drivers left for the final race of the season with an equal number of points. During the race, it looked as if the seven-time world champion would make history with an eighth title, but after a safety car, Verstappen got the better of him.

Things were a little different in 2022. The lead over Charles Leclerc was so big that Verstappen already had a good chance of winning the title in Japan. Due to a long delay because of weather conditions, the race lasted only 40 minutes. As a result, it was thought that with his victory, Verstappen did not yet have the title in his hands, as fewer points are handed out in shortened races. In the end, after a lot of confusion, the Red Bull Racing driver turned out to have won his second world title after all.

The Wednesday after the race in Japan, father Jos Verstappen saw his son again for the first time in Imola. "But since then we haven't talked about his world title at all. He doesn't talk about it himself either", the Dutchman says in conversation with De Telegraaf.

"This is of course a different situation from last year. Then it was the first time and also during the last race in Abu Dhabi. Now we all saw it coming a bit." Verstappen senior noticed from his son that he is happy that the season is almost over.