Max Verstappen silenced all of his critics at the Brazilian Grand Prix by putting in one of the best drives of his career to take an incredible victory after starting 17th on the grid.
And just to stick it to those critics a little further, he trolled them in the press conference after the race.
Brazilian Grand Prix weekend
Max Verstappen’s weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix was a rollercoaster. After a difficult qualifying session that saw him secure only 17th place on the starting grid with his 5-place grid penalty, Verstappen faced the daunting challenge of moving up the field in Sunday’s race.
His title rival Norris started on pole and it looked like this would be a great chance for Lando to close the championship gap. But Max had other ideas.
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The track was wet which meant DRS wasn’t available. Where others struggled to overtake, Max had no such issue. On the first lap alone he passed 7 other drivers and continued to carve his way through the field with supreme confidence and precision.
After Lando Norris and George Russell pitted for new tyres, Max decided to stay out. A red flag followed shortly which meant he could get a free set of new tyres.
When the race restarted he switfly passed the Alpine of Esteban Ocon for the lead, and from then on he was untouchable. He set 17 fastest laps during the race and finished over 19 seconds ahead of the second place driver.
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British media criticism
This was another incredible drive from Max. But his season has been shadowed by criticism, especially from the British media. The most recent incidents with British driver Lando Norris at the Mexican Grand Prix added fuel to the already fiery debate surrounding Verstappen’s aggressive driving style that has seen him make many controversial moves over the years.
In Mexico, the two clashed twice on one lap, leading to a 20 second time penalty for Verstappen and some sharp commentary from British F1 figures. Damon Hill, a former world champion and a respected pundit, called out Verstappen’s driving, describing it as “overly aggressive” and suggesting that he occasionally oversteps the boundary of fair play.
Likewise, F1 commentator Martin Brundle criticized certain moves as “dangerous,” fueling a narrative within British media circles that often paints Verstappen as reckless. This narrative has persisted, especially given Verstappen’s history of intense battles with Lewis Hamilton, and his current championship battle with Norris has only amplified the scrutiny.
Jos Verstappen has his say
In the face of this ongoing criticism, Verstappen has remained focused, but his father, Jos Verstappen, hasn’t been as reserved. Jos, a former F1 driver who has supported Max throughout his racing career, recently spoke out about the negative portrayal of his son, particularly from British journalists.
After the Brazilian GP, Jos didn’t mince words, specifically calling out what he referred to as “negative journalists from England.” Jos emphasized that this scrutiny does not discourage Max; if anything, it “makes him stronger.” He noted that his son is resilient and uses the pressure as fuel to continue performing at the highest level, turning criticism into motivation.
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Brazil post-race press conference
With this backdrop of media scrutiny, Verstappen’s press conference after the Brazilian Grand Prix became a perfect moment for a chance to make a dig at the British press who have so readily criticised him.
Fresh off his stunning victory, he entered the room with the relaxed confidence of a driver who had silenced all the critics. As he looked around, he noticed the absence of several familiar faces from the British press corps.
With a smirk, he asked, “Where is the British press? Do they have to run to the airport, or do they not know where the press conference is?”
His playful jab quickly lightened the mood, with drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly joining in the laughter.
Verstappen’s comment wasn’t just a throwaway joke; it acknowledged the tension between him and parts of the British media, showing he was aware of the critical narratives and the unfair bias he faces when up against his British rivals.
It also acknowledged that had Norris been in the press conference the British media would have been present. But without a British driver in the top 3, none of the UK media outlets were interested in hearing what Max had to say, despite his sensational victory.
Verstappen still the driver to beat
In Brazil, Verstappen demonstrated that no matter the position on the starting grid, he still has the drive to win—and that no amount of criticism will shift his focus.
Each victory, especially one as spectacular as this, is a reminder of why he’s the best on the grid. The win in Brazil was not only one of the best of his career, but one of the best the sport has ever seen. He ran rings around everyone else; he was in another league.
Whilst Max often gets stick from the British media for his aggressive driving style, nobody can deny his brilliance this weekend. And Max has now cemented his bid for his 4th World Championship, one which appears to be a foregone conclusion with just 3 races left and a 62 point lead over Norris.
Need to do away with DRS this shows who the real drivers are