Verstappen: This year I was a lot calmer in front of cameras

Max Verstappen revealed that he was publically more relaxed throughout the 2019 Formula 1 season, managing his anger and when to release with his anger has been crucial for the fiery 22-year-old.

Although he was chided for some media comments this year, including accusing Ferrari of "cheating", most agree that the Red Bull driver appeared to have matured this year, perhaps even found a garden of inner peace within himself.

The Dutchman, who is known for the occasional tantrum, told Ziggo Sport, "This year I was a lot calmer in front of cameras. More Zen. Generally, that works better. I never throw things anyway as my father has never allowed it, but sometimes you cannot help being angry.

"That's just being human but, if I am angry, I have learned to wait before I go in front of the cameras. When I was very angry, sometimes I skipped the media altogether. That was a problem, but I don't do that anymore," he explained.

That said, Verstappen thinks he is particularly good at handling the pressure of being one of the top drivers in Formula 1, "I don't necessarily experience that, no. Maybe that will come when we start the season with a good car.

"We know that we want to win as a team, but for now we are trying to get into that position. We got close to it at the end of the season," he added as part of his ongoing encouragement for Red Bull and Honda to provide him with a title-winning car at which time he will be happy to have his newfound 'Zen' to tap into.

Notably, Verstappen's teammate is the remarkably calm and comparatively understated Alex Albon, a practising Buddhist, who might be able to teach the Dutchman a thing or two about 'Zen'.