Verstappen won’t change driving style despite criticism
Max Verstappen has vowed he won’t change the way he drives despite receiving criticism from experienced drivers such as Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button.
The Dutchman first came under fire when Raikkonen felt his defence of fifth place during the Hungarian Grand Prix ‘was not correct’ with the Ferrari driver adding Verstappen had moved twice on several occasions when defending the position.
The team raised Raikkonen’s concerns with Race Director Charlie Whiting but he and the other stewards said the Red Bull driver had done nothing wrong.
That was not the end of the protests, however, as Verstappen’s movements in the braking zones were reportedly discussed in the drivers briefing before the German Grand Prix after which Jenson Button said: “I’m sure he understands a bit better now than he did before.”
Despite the criticism he has faced in recent races, Verstappen is unaffected and even sees them as a positive thing.
“I always see it as a positive thing,” he told Autosport. “If people are talking about you then you are doing something right.
“Of course, you always have people who criticise. Some people are for you, some people against. But I just try to do the best possible job for the team because we are fighting with Ferrari. You don’t just allow somebody by.
“Of course, I am always on the limit, but that’s how you become successful, by being on the limit – because if you are under it then you will never achieve what you are capable of.
“So for me, it [the criticism] doesn’t really change a lot. I will drive exactly the same as I have done before because there is nothing wrong with it.”