Formula One F1 - Mexico City Grand Prix - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico - October 25, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen during practice REUTERS/Henry Romero
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Max Verstappen has yet to make peace with Formula One's governing body after being sanctioned for swearing in a press conference but he is clear on what he would like to see happen in an ideal world.
"Drivers need to get more power," Red Bull's triple world champion told Reuters in an interview ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
"It's a tough one, I know, but this is something that I think is very important for the future, for the young drivers not so much for us.
"I mean, I'm happy with what I'm doing, even if many things change. If I'm not happy, I stop. It's done," added the 27-year-old.
"But the young kids that are now working towards their goal to get to Formula One, that is the main priority -- to make sure that for them it's not only going to get worse from what it is."
Asked what he meant by more power, Verstappen replied: "Voting rights. At least that we can actually be involved in the discussion."
"I mean that would be ideal. I know that it is very unlikely, but if you leave it up to the teams it's anyway going to be a disaster because they only speak for themselves."
The suggestion is unlikely to gain any traction with the powers that be, or those who pay the wages, but Verstappen has never been one to hold back on or off the track.
GOALS COMPLETED
Heading for a fourth title in a row, and 57 points clear of McLaren's Lando Norris with five rounds remaining, Verstappen says he cares little about the big numbers.
Contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, Verstappen said he just wanted to have fun. He warned last month that the FIA's stance on swearing could hasten his departure and he insisted he still felt that way.
He said he had no desire to match Fernando Alonso's 400 races, a milestone the Spaniard reached in Mexico, or continue racing into his 40s like old title rival and seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton.
"Now that I've won championships and races, for me, my goals are completed in Formula One, so there's a bit less pressure," he said.
"I don't care about winning eight titles or beating the win record. I know that I can do that but you need in a way luck as well, for a long time that you are at the right team.
"Yes, I can continue until I'm 40 years old, but I don't want to.
"I don't want to look back when I'm 80 years old, and hopefully I make it to 80, and look at myself and say 'Jesus! I've done 40 years of racing, and I've basically wasted 15 good years of my life (when I could be) having a good time with family and friends'.
"OK, maybe you win a few more championships and races, but it's not about that for me in life.
"When I'm 80 years old I want to look back and say 'Yes, I had a good time in racing, I did everything I needed to do, and I loved my life and I lived my life.' That's what I want to do."
Verstappen has won seven races so far this season but is currently on a nine-race losing streak, even if his lead remains relatively comfortable.
He has led the championship since May 2022, a run he is set to continue into 2025, and last year won 19 of 22 races in the most dominant campaign on record.
"I think the most special will always be 2023," he said, comparing his titles.
"But I also know that it cannot be like that every single year. I said to myself... 'don't expect another season like that because you will get very frustrated'. And that's what I've accepted."
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
