Verstappen thinks races should be won on the track.
Max Verstappen admitted that he and Lewis Hamilton sometimes hated each other this year, but that the mutual respect between them remains high.
The Red Bull driver said that after the title was decided at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix their relationship was back to normal.
"You look at each other in the same way," he said. You don't say a lot but you do relate and appreciate the fight.
We did sometimes dislike each other, but that's fine. Both of us are competitive. He is a great driver.
Prince Charles knighted Hamilton.
Verstappen was in Red Bull's headquarters for the first time since winning the title.
The title win was achieved in controversial circumstances after a late-race safety car.
He said that they had won it on track. People say it was a lucky win. The win was very lucky.
The championship would have been decided earlier if we had not been so unlucky throughout the season.
Sometimes a little bit of luck in your life is good.
The Dutch driver has been reprimanded for his driving this year and has been fined a number of times for incidents with Hamilton.
Verstappen said he would not change his approach to wheel-to-wheel racing even if Formula 1 officials kept their current line that he is not allowed to force drivers off the track.
Verstappen said that he might have to make them realise that he is being aggressive.
I have a good relationship with them. It's not like I don't like them when I'm in the stewards' office. I go to them and talk to them about something and it doesn't go into my favor.
I don't agree with what they decide, so I don't dislike them or anything.
I think it's fair but I don't agree with that particular decision.
He felt for race director Michael Masi, who has been heavily criticized for his handling of the race and a series of inconsistent decisions this year, and who is under pressure in his role.
Verstappen said that it was a tough job. People think he needs help. Yes, it's a fair point. Everyone needs help. I need help of my own.
It's unfair to hate on Michael because he is a nice guy and he tries his best.
Verstappen spoke to Dan Roan of the British Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday.
The best bits from the interview are here.
I think races should be won on the track.
After a safety car stopped the race, Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton to win and take the title. The Mercedes team will appeal against the decision to reject their protest. Despite the appeal still being a possibility, Verstappen has no doubts about keeping his title.
I can't speak for them. We have been winning races on the track all season.
We had the most poles and wins. The last race was pretty crazy but I think we deserved it.
I think it was a good thing for the sport that everyone was so emotional during that final race.
What can I do better? That's the same for the person. They will always ask, 'what can we do better next year?' You have to keep that in mind.
On the last lap, I got a massive cramp.
I didn't know when it was going to restart. I was behind Hamilton when he heard it was going to restart.
I said that was my only chance at it. It will be either second or first. I was prepared for it.
When I crossed the start/finish line to try and attack him, I got a huge pain in my leg, so I had to deal with that as well.
I had to go for the title and deal with a painful leg injury, which was very painful, because I saw all the footage of people going crazy in the garage or on the pit wall.
You have to deal with it. It wasn't easy but it was worth it.
You still need to go for the pass even though I have the grip advantage. It all worked out.
'We really respect each other'
The final race of the season was equal between Hamilton and Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton was magnanimous in his post-race interviews, but said over his team radio that the race had been manipulated.
Emotions run high. I think that's normal, because it has done before.
He came up to me after the race. We had our moments when we clashed, but we really respected each other.
We pushed each other to their limits. Most of the time, we were on the limit of what we could do.
The teams were under pressure to make the right decisions. The other guy would beat us if we didn't deliver our best. We can look back at it and appreciate it.
It must have been very difficult for Lewis and the team, but he has won seven titles so maybe that comforts him. He will be delivering to his very best next year, which is a very high level.
It depends on how our cars are but I hope the rivalry with Hamilton continues. He's been a great competitor. It has been a pleasure driving against him.
My dad threw everything at this.
Verstappen's father is a former grand prix driver.
When I was a kid, my dad and I had a life mission to win the world title.
Everything was thrown at it by my dad. He believed in me and went all the way. It was very emotional talking to my dad when I achieved something like this.
You think back to when you traveled throughout Europe in a van, working towards that ultimate goal.
It's been a real family effort because they had to suffer for it. It was extra special because of that.
I will be upset if I'm second next year.
I'm tired at the moment because I'm always trying to be perfect and on top of my game, but it's been busy all the way through. Your body needs a bit of time to recover after winning the title.
As a driver, you always have to believe you can do it. It relaxes you a bit now that you have achieved it.
If I don't win the race and come second next year, I will still be upset.
I won't go for it the same way again if I win, because anything that happens now is a bonus.
In the back of your mind, you are more relaxed because you have achieved your ultimate goal.
I need a few weeks to relax and not think about it too much. I'm going to give everything I have when I'm ready to go again.
