Dismissing criticism of his aggressive driving style, Max Verstappen insists that he doesn't care if he becomes the sport's outcast.

It is understood that 19 of the current drivers are seeking an overhaul of the racing guidelines following recent incidents in Austin and Mexico City, the exception being three-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Defending his aggressive approach to racing, the Dutchman insists that he doesn't care about being the odd man out as he has the full support of those that matter to him.

"It's my tenth year in Formula 1, I think I know what I'm doing," replied the Red Bull driver, when asked his view on the calls for an overhaul of the racing guidelines. "I don't feel alone at all," he added, "I have good friends and family, so I'm good.

"You win some, you lose some," he continued. "That's how it is in racing in general. And yeah, I like to win. I don't like to lose. I think not many people like to lose. And I think, yeah, we just try to maximise the result."

As for the guidelines, Verstappen feels that the sport is already over-regulated.

"I think it's not that straightforward, clearly even between how many seconds (of penalties) that you get. Sometimes they work for you, sometimes they work against you.

"It's never going to be perfect because even if you remove rules, then you get into a battle, then you want more rules because it's not clear what is allowed or not. Then when you have too many rules, you want less rules. It just keeps on going left and right all the time."

Of the recent criticism of his driving, he said: "Some people are just being very annoying. I know who these people are, although I don't really pay a lot of attention to them.

"I think I've got to this stage in my career with the right people supporting me and making my own decisions, I have good people with a good heart from the outside.

"Some people are just a bit biased," he added, "I get it, it's fine. But it's not my problem at the end of the day. I just continue with my life and I keep performing."

Damon hill recently likened Verstappen's tactics to "Dick Dastardly", while Johnny Herbert, who was one of the Singapore stewards who punished the Dutchman for swearing in a press conference, claims the penalties in Mexico were appropriate.

"The right decision was made," said the Briton, "the 20-second penalty was not harsh. "Was Verstappen's driving style on the edge or over the top? Yes, it was," he added. "Verstappen's driving style was harsh, especially when he's taking a fellow driver off the track. It's an absolute no-no from me, current drivers, former drivers and stewards."

"I don't listen to those individuals," insisted Verstappen. "I just do my thing. I'm a three-time world champion, I think I know what I'm doing. I have my opinions, but I don't need to share them.

"I have people that are objective and close to me and not just there to steer... I can't say the word because I'll probably get another... I mean, apparently it only counts for me anyway, because, you know, after the race in Mexico, people, someone was swearing, I didn't hear anything from it," he said, a clear reference to Charles Leclerc. "It's better I don't swear again."

In a subsequent interview with member of the Dutch media, Verstappen suggested that there is an agenda behind the criticism.

"People act like I'm doing it all on purpose. But they can't see inside my head. They are pretty extreme accusations. Yes, we raced hard. That's right. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."

"If they all knew it so well prior to their careers, they would all have become champions," he said of critics like Herbert. "I know a lot of people are biased and that I have the wrong passport. I'm very happy with my passport, mind you, but in this paddock it's the wrong one. I know how most people are.

"Last year almost everything went perfectly. It must have hurt a lot of people a lot that they couldn't say anything negative. Now it's all coming out and they're going full steam ahead. They're doing just fine. It doesn't upset me."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 02/11/2024 9:38

"@Max Noble
There's "blots" & then there's BLOTS. Senna in particular calculated his aggression, most often relying on racecraft & talent. VMax seems to depend much more on intimidation - I'm coming through, get out of "my" way\pass at your peril....
"

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2. Posted by Max Noble, 02/11/2024 4:29

"Soccer usually does a great job ensuring the ref and lines-people are neutral about the two team for international matches. The challenge with F1 is finding quality motorsports stewards and ex-drivers with no connection to anyone on the grid! We’d have to source every offical from Greenland and Antartica!

I believe Herbert has addressed his “conscious bias”, but has not fully acknowledged his “unconscious bias” - Which is to say he feels a more natural affinity for Lando than V. Max…. Just as all we humans have unconscious bias encoded within.

As to “aggressive driving” - Well. Senna, Schumacher etc.etc. Have all got the elbows out more than one might like. V. Max will not be the last in a long line of Champions with blots on their copy book…"

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3. Posted by equator180, 01/11/2024 18:41

"I have been watching and following Formula 1 for over 30 years, and anyone who claims they haven’t seen the so-called greats—especially Lewis—make the same moves as Max did last week clearly hasn’t been watching long enough or closely enough. It would be interesting to see what would happen if, this week, Max opened up a gap to let someone take the inside line and then got moved off the track. What would the ruling be?"

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4. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 01/11/2024 15:08

"@kenji - what has Herbert said that was political? "

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5. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 01/11/2024 15:07

"@Anthony - I’m pretty sure Verstappen’s comment was aimed at Herbert but I’m sure he feels the same about anyone who is critical of his driving standards.

Senna was capable of making bad decisions too. He tarnished his reputation with the Suzuka first corner crash & he knew he was in the wrong. I know why he did it & why he felt at the time that it was justified. Senna will always be a hero to me, but he was human and therefore flawed, like all of us. "

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6. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 01/11/2024 15:01

"Based on the responses shown below, I rest my case! "

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7. Posted by Anthony, 01/11/2024 14:02

"Perhaps the “wrong passport” comment was aimed at the Sky team who never seem to find any fault with Lewis (whereas Brundle never seems to find anything positive to say about Max) …..

As everyone is now in Brazil, it would be interesting to hear Lewis’ views on what he thinks Ayrton would have thought about Max….. "

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8. Posted by MossMan, 01/11/2024 13:40

""Wrong passport"... from a Dutchman? With some of the most nationalistically-minded fans out there (I am half Dutch, lived there many years)? That's a new one!
"

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9. Posted by kenji, 01/11/2024 13:26

"If Verstappen makes a mess and flouts the rules then he deserves to be penalise accordingly. However, it is the stewards that then become the subject of scrutiny according to their interpretation and implementation of penalties. Stewards must be apolitical and that being the case then Herbert should be sacked for making the comments attributed to him over the past 72hours. He is right out of order as a steward."

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10. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 01/11/2024 13:21

"The whole “wrong passport” narrative is tiresome & divisive. One of the great things about F1 has always been its truly international reach & the broad range of nationalities represented on the grid. Fans right across the world support drivers not based on nationality but on the grounds of their talents, values & personalities.

Verstappen’s victim mentality will just stoke the toxic, jingoistic DTS soap opera. He could do with some better management, it seems. "

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11. Posted by Wokingchap, 01/11/2024 12:51

"He may know what he's doing but doesn't know it's wrong....imo."

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"I know what I'm doing," insists Verstappen

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