"I am not here to be the most liked person"
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen has revealed that it doesn't matter to him whether he's well-liked or not within the world of Formula 1, as the Dutchman explains the sport is all about winning for him at the end of the day.
Verstappen has been a controversial figure in the past at times because of his no-nonsense way of speaking in front of the media paired with his aggressive style of driving during races.
However, the seven-time Grand Prix winner is also one of the best talents to grace F1 in a long time. Verstappen has broken virtually every record in his path so far and he still has next season to become the youngest F1 champion of all time.
In an interview ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen spoke about those title ambitions, and what he would do to become a champion in the sport he's been in since 2015.
"I don't want to sound arrogant or disrespectful to others," the 22-year-old said to BBC Sport.
"I'm very determined to win and I would not give up. If I have to go over I'll go over; if I have to go under, I'll go under. In that kind of way.
"Let's say it like this: after my career, if I would have won five championships but I'm maybe not the most liked person, for me that doesn't matter, because at the end of the day it's all about winning.
"And that maybe sounds arrogant, but I don't want to sound like that. I would do anything - or everything - to win. If it's a little bit - not dirty, but in a hard way - I will do it. I am not here to be the most liked person."