Max Verstappen says “idiots” on social media have made his relationship with Lando Norris during the 2024 F1 season sound worse than reality.
Verstappen and Norris have been good friends off the track since reuniting in karting more than a decade ago, but experienced their first F1 title fight this year.
The pair clashed in Austria in June before controversial incidents in Austin and Mexico City in October as Verstappen came under increasing pressure to maintain his championship lead.
Verstappen claimed a fourth straight title after a stunning win in Sao Paulo, before finishing ahead of Norris at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to become champion.
“People always make it worse on social media. There are a lot of idiots on that platform who always have something to say, something to complain about,” Verstappen said on Red Bull's podcast. Talking Bull.
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“There are a lot of positive people, but also real idiots. I think it's better to ignore it all.
“Lando and I got along very well. Of course, at times it was a little tense on the track, but off the track, it shouldn't matter. We always try to do our best on the track to get the best possible result.
“You're fighting for the World Cup. I think it's normal that things like this can happen, but we're good.”
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Verstappen reveals he almost 'destroyed' the room ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
The day that defined the title race was the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, as Verstappen stormed through the field from 17th to take his first win in more than four months, while pole-holder Norris finished sixth.
Heavy rain meant qualifying took place on Sunday morning, before the race, and Lance Stroll's crash at the end of Q2 meant Verstappen missed Q3 due to the unfortunate timing of the yellow and red flags and his five-place grid penalty for the new engine relegated him to the penultimate row of the grid.
“I was very upset about qualifying. I was going to destroy my room, but I went into my room and my dad was sitting there,” he said.
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“He was that calm, very calm. I was so angry and then I saw him so calm, it actually calmed me down. I just walked in… when I think back to that day, I could really feel us in the office, when we were getting ready there were a lot of sad faces for the race because you start in P17, your main rival starts first, so it could be a big points swing and we couldn't have that for that championship point.
“Everyone was quite nervous, but then it rained. It was a wet day. I jumped in the car. I like driving in the wet, but you never know what's going to happen because you can be taken out at the same time, or you spin off the track, because it's very difficult.
“But then as soon as the race started, it was good, it was nice. I enjoyed it a lot. I felt good with the car. Step by step, driving forward again. There was relief on the podium. As soon as I won that race I was like 'that's it'.”
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After Carlos Sainz's crash brought out the safety car, Max Verstappen overtook Esteban Ocon for the race lead in Brazil
Verstappen compares Brazil 2024 to Abu Dhabi 2021
Verstappen, who will ski and simulate racing during Formula 1's winter break, will have the chance next season to join Michael Schumacher's record five consecutive titles.
His first championship was most controversial due to race director Michael Masi restarting the season-ending 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with one lap to go, running only backmarkers between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the season to take top spot in an already contentious season and compared this year's race in Brazil to Abu Dhabi 2021.
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“I wouldn't want to relive Brazil because that day was so exhausting that I can't do it again. It's like reliving my first title that day. I think I would have died that day,” said the four-time world champion.
“The people who saw me that day, especially my girlfriend Kelly (Piquet). She came into my room before the race and normally I'm not that nervous. You're just well prepared and maybe you want to do some nerves good.
“But she said my hands were freezing cold. You really don't want to relive moments like this. They're wonderful to look at, but not to experience.”
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