Verstappen: Sometimes you have to cross a line. I do

The four-time Formula 1 champion came under fire during the 2024 season after a couple of on-track battles with his rival Lando Norris in Austin and then in Mexico City, even receiving a penalty for the latter.

But Verstappen is unperturbed by all the criticism, insisting that his champion mentality is what drives him to always maximize the outcome of his races.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown was one of the critical voices of Verstappen, but speaking to Dutch F1 broadcaster Viaplay, the Red Bull driver said: "Yes, but they don’t have the world champion mentality.

"I will always go to the limit to get the most out of every race and if I have to force it, then that’s just how it goes. Sometimes you have to cross a line. Well, I do."

After being found at fault due to his battle with Norris in the Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen insists there are no regrets, and when asked, he responded: "No, not at all in that race. I think I won points there.

"So like I said, I will always do everything to get the maximum result for a championship. And of course, sometimes you have to go to the limit or over the limit, and not everyone understands that. Not everyone has that mentality."

While Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive F1 title, Red Bull failed to defend their constructors' crown, as their RB20 was a points-scoring machine in the hands of their #1 driver and not Sergio Perez's, who struggled to contribute to the team's points tally and now faces an unsecure future.

While McLaren won the constructors' championship, their first since 1998, they failed to manage their drivers properly and did not give Norris the #1 status alongside Oscar Piastri.

Verstappen believes that was a sign of McLaren's inexperience in fighting for championships; he said: "They've had a very good car this year.

"But I think it's also clear that they still had a lot to learn, so to speak, to really constantly compete.

"Of course, they did well for the constructors' championship, but they could have prepared much better for the drivers' championship," Verstappen concluded.