3 hours ago
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It’s time for mind games. And Max Verstappen kicked them off by claiming that the pressure is not on him but on the McLaren men he is fighting for the world title.
The reigning champion believes his still keeping a foot in the contest is ‘remarkable’ enough.
Verstappen comes to Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix trailing leader Lando Norris by 36 points with four rounds remaining – including a sprint this weekend and in Qatar.
There are 116 points still to play for. Oscar Piastri, in the other papaya car, is a point behind Norris.
‘For me, there is no pressure,’ said Verstappen. ‘Even if I don’t win it, I still know that I drove a really good season and I can happily say that most people on the grid would it very tough to replicate what I have done.
‘So, you just need to be realistic. Given the problems we have had to be talking about being in this fight still is already remarkable, and it is to do with the turnaround of the team.
Max Verstappen insists there is no pressure on him in the Formula One championship race
Lando Norris (left) and Oscar Piastri (right) can feel Verstappen hunting them down
‘They never gave up and that is a strength of Red Bull. Nevertheless, at one stage we were over 100 points behind and we are still talking about being in this fight – that is very impressive.’
Verstappen was, in fact, 104 points off the lead after the Dutch race at the end of August but a new floor introduced in Monza a week later – as well as his tenacity and talent – has put him right in the minds of Norris and Piastri.
Norris produced probably his best career performance in Mexico a fortnight ago in claiming the victory that ended a 189-day streak as second in the standings to Piastri.
Norris, a buoyant figure as he conducted his media work ahead of what is expected to be a rain-splashed weekend, played down the mental challenge of now being the hunted.
He said: ‘You get reminded about it by friends or people you bump into. It is a cool thought to think I am fighting for an F1 world championship.
‘Being in a position to do that is part of my dream. And it feels incredible, but in terms of achieving the title, it doesn’t feel any different a prospect.
'I need to win this weekend, next weekend and the all the final races, and that’s my goal.’
