Verstappen is very difficult to overtake as he is uncompromising in battle when attacking and defending over a race distance.

The Red Bull The driver was particularly decisive earlier in his career as he battled Lewis Hamilton for his first world championship in 2021.

He is on the verge of his fourth world championship and can win the title if he surpasses his nearest rival Lando Norris at Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Verstappen told BBC that he is unwilling to give race space to another driver who wants to pass him on the outside.

Max Verstappen explained that he doesn’t “race like that” when he gives space on the outside

Verstappen has built up a reputation for being very difficult to overtake which gives him a slight advantage when battling other cars.

Other drivers, such as Valtteri Bottas, are much less brutal on track, and the Finnish driver lacked aggressiveness in races at Mercedes.

Verstappen and Norris’ relationship could be about to change amid the struggles on the court this season, including the controversial battle at US Grand Prix.

Many modern Formula 1 tracks including the Circuit of the Americas have asphalt runoff on the outside which does not penalize mistakes as much as gravel.

READ MORE: The friendship between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris took a “bit of a blow” in the title battle

Verstappen explained that some drivers are not as ruthless as he is in wheel-to-wheel battle and his approach depends on track design.

He said, “Well, me personally, I don’t race like that (giving space on the outside),” he says, laughing.

“When I’m racing someone, he’s not going to be able to overtake me on the outside. That’s how I grew up racing.

“Some drivers are just a bit more passive in racing, that’s just the way they are. And I know in F1 I can’t hang it on the outside because they’ll push me off. It’s a racing instinct.

“It depends on the track layout,” said Verstappen, echoing other drivers’ views that expansive asphalt catchments lead to this type of racing because there is no penalty for going off the track.
“Obviously when the track is naturally the limit, nobody tries to go around the outside because they know that, so you then try to go for the cut or set yourself up in a different way.”

Max Verstappen may have a tougher championship battle in 2025

Verstappen is on the verge of his fourth consecutive world championship, which would allow him to join a very exclusive drivers’ club.

The Dutchman could have more of a fight on his hands next season as McLaren continue to improve and Ferrari have the superb driver line-up of Charles Leclerc and Hamilton.

The cars remain similar this season, and if Verstappen is under pressure, he will have to use all his skills in battle.

Despite other teams potentially developing, Verstappen could have the upper hand on his teammate as Sergio Perez stays.

Related posts