Verstappen insists he has no weaknesses – and who's arguing?
01/06/2025 12:22 PM
When you're four-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen, it seems self-doubt isn't part of your vocabulary.
In fact, the Red Bull superstar believes he's a fortress of talent – impervious to weakness. And let's be real: most of his rivals probably wouldn't argue.
It's not arrogance per se on the part of the Dutchman, but rather a deep-seated belief ingrained from a young age by his father, Jos.
From the outset, Verstappen Sr, a former F1 driver himself, instilled in his son the unwavering conviction that he could be the best.
And it's a mission Max has clearly taken to heart.
But it's one thing to believe you're the best, and quite another to consistently prove it on the track, which Verstappen has done with aplomb.
Winning the 2024 championship, thanks to a dominant stint in the opening ten races of the season, only solidified the 27-year-old's self-assuredness.
No Weaknesses, But Always Room for Improvement?
While Verstappen insists he's bulletproof, he does acknowledge the pursuit of perfection is never-ending – sort of.
"I don't feel like I have any weaknesses – and I of course will never admit to it anyway!" he facetiously said in an interview with Formula 1's official website.
"But I'm also very open-minded because I know I can always be better, but I also know it's very hard…
"I know over a single weekend, people can have unbelievable performances, but it's about how you can keep very good performance the whole year."
Relentless Consistency
Verstappen's success isn't just about raw speed; it's about relentless consistency.
This year, he shattered Michael Schumacher's record for most consecutive days leading the drivers' championship, a streak that now extends well beyond 900 days.
That's not just impressive; it's practically a geological timescale in F1 terms.
This ability to consistently perform at the highest level, even when things aren't perfect, is what sets him apart.
"That has to do with a lot of stuff. I don't want to go into too much detail, as I'm of course giving away stuff," he said.
"As a driver, you have to be on top of your game every single time.
"You need to find what works for you as every single driver is different in their approach, but you do have to understand what works for you."
Master of Controlled Chaos
If Verstappen is an artist, his canvas is the F1 track – and sometimes, his brushstrokes can get a little… unconventional.
Whether he's pushing the limits of the rules or executing razor-sharp overtakes, Verstappen claims to always be in control, even if the rest of us are left clutching our seats.
"There have been tough races, questionable moves and moments, but I know what I'm doing, I'm fully in control of what I'm doing," he explained.
"Sometimes, of course, with a thought behind it. I'm well in control of what I'm executing on track. Sometimes it's necessary. I will do everything I can to win."
He's not lying. Verstappen's approach to racing is simple: attack, attack, and if that doesn't work, attack some more. And when he loses? Let's just say it's not a pretty sight.
"I hate losing," he admitted bluntly. "I can acknowledge when someone does a better job, but it's still not nice to lose. That is the driving factor – we need to be better.
"Even when we were successful in 2023, we wanted to find more performance. It was something that definitely taught us a lot in 2024."
With fierce competition looming from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes in 2025, Verstappen knows he's got a fight on his hands to secure a fifth consecutive title.
But for someone who thrives under pressure, it's just another day in the office.
Loving the Grind
Despite his dominance, Verstappen isn't bored of winning. Far from it.
"I'm loving it, I have a contract until 2028," he said. "After that I don't want to think about it yet. A lot of things can happen. But for now, I'm very happy with where I'm at."
So, does Verstappen truly have no weaknesses? He'd certainly like you to think so.
Whether it's his unflinching confidence, his control under pressure, or his ability to grind out results even on an off day, Verstappen is as close to the perfect package as F1 has ever seen.
For now, his rivals will keep searching for a chink in the armor – if they can even keep up long enough to look.
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