Verstappen: 'Real F1 fans' appreciate Red Bull dominance
Max Verstappen begs to differ with those who believe that Red Bull's supremacy is bad for the sport, insisting those who don't appreciate the team's remarkable achievements are "not real fans" of F1.
Red Bull's clean sweep of race wins in 2023 ended abruptly last weekend in Singapore where the Milton Keynes-based outfit was inexplicably never a force to be reckoned in qualifying nor on race day.
Instead, fans enjoyed a thrilling three-way battle between Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes that was settled in favor of the Scuderia and Carlos Sainz.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff called the podium void of Red Bull's presence "refreshing", a view likely shared by Liberty Media chief executive Greg Maffei who recently described Red Bull and Verstappen's unwavering dominance this season as "a challenge" for F1 in terms of sustaining its popularity and viewership.
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But ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen shot back against those who believe that his and his team's supremacy are bad for the sport.
"Honestly, I have zero interest in that," he said. "For me, it was just we got beaten, in a very clear way. I don't think about what is good for F1.
"I don't think it's necessarily bad what was happening to F1, because we were just better than everyone else. And if people can't appreciate that, then you're not a real fan. But yeah, that's how it goes.
"That's why I was also super relaxed about it because we didn't perform. Other people did a better job than us, then of course they deserved to win.
"They shouldn't win because people say it's boring that we are winning."
Verstappen's view on Red Bull's shocking defeat was clear cut to say the least.
"No emotion. I mean, we stopped winning for one race. Shit happens," he said.
"We won 10 in a row before that. Of course, I would have liked to win there as well. But I also know that there is always going to be a day you have that weekend where you're not winning, or things go wrong.
"And yeah, unfortunately, it was that weekend, but we just move on, and try again."
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Red Bull is now channeling all its resources towards next year's RB20 contender. But Verstappen believes that he can reposition himself at the head of the pack this weekend and resume his winning ways in every single event remaining on F1's calendar.
"I still think that from now onwards, we can win every single race, even with people bringing upgrades and stuff," he contended.
"It's normal, when some people had a bit of a tough start to the year they want to learn more, and they keep on developing for a longer period of time.
"I think that's also what we've done in the past. And then maybe here and there they might have that opportunity of winning, but I still think that our car is capable of winning every race."
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