Max Verstappen: It’s not the first time I’ve been in a championship fight!

Max Verstappen will not change his strategy heading into the final five races of the season, as he has previously competed in championship battles.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull says it’s not difficult for him to be relaxed and focused during his title battle with Lewis Hamilton because he’s been in championship battles before, just not in Formula One.

Verstappen leads Hamilton by 12 points in the Drivers’ standings heading into this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, which he won twice in 2017 and 2018.

Unlike previous races, Verstappen will be in the thick of a championship battle at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez this season, but the Dutchman thinks he didn’t alter his strategy because he’s been in similar situations in the past.

“I like what I’m doing so that takes the pressure off,” Verstappen said and accredited members of the media. “It’s not the first time I’ve been in a championship fight. Yes, it’s the first time in Formula 1, but not in my life.

“So at the end of the day that doesn’t really change because you need to win, and that’s what I have been doing in the past as well. I need to try to do the same here. When the car is capable to win, I’ll win. When the car is not capable of winning, I won’t win.”

Verstappen not interested in past battles

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes Team Principal, has claimed that Verstappen and Hamilton may face off in a title-deciding race, similar to Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, or Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher.

While Hamilton stated that he is only interested in winning the championship “the right way,” Verstappen is solely concerned with collecting as many points as possible.

“I don’t really think about previous historic fights between two drivers, what they’ve done… It’s the past,” Verstappen added.

“I just focus on what I have to do on track, and that’s to try and do the best I can. That’s how, at the end of the day, you’re gonna win the championship, to try and get the most available points out there. And, of course, try to beat your rival.”

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