Max Verstappen on Why His 'Best' F1 Race is Impossible to Pinpoint

Max Verstappen believes it's "impossible" to definitively name the "best" race of his F1 career, citing numerous factors that influence performance and the equal value of every victory in the championship. Despite his dominant win at the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix from P17—a race widely considered one of his finest—Verstappen emphasizes that scoring points is the ultimate goal, regardless of the starting position or race conditions.

Why it matters:

• Verstappen's perspective highlights a driver's focus on championship points over subjective "best race" debates, even as fans and media celebrate iconic performances.
• His repeated stellar drives in challenging conditions, particularly at Interlagos, underscore his adaptability and skill, solidifying his reputation as a formidable competitor.
• The ongoing championship battle with McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri adds weight to his philosophy that every point counts, especially as he chases a fifth-consecutive title against the odds.

The details:

• Verstappen secured victory at the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix after starting from P17, a performance many regard as his career-best among his 68 wins.
• He has a history of excelling in difficult conditions at Interlagos, including a podium finish from P16 in 2016 in just his second season.
• When asked about topping last year's performance, Verstappen noted, "A wet race is always quite challenging, and then around here, it's always quite tough."
• He acknowledged the 2024 São Paulo GP as "one of my best races, because it was under a lot of pressure, having to perform, basically." However, he maintained that it's "always impossible to say which one is the best, because it depends on a lot of factors."

The big picture:

• For Verstappen, all victories are fundamentally equal in terms of championship points, making the debate over a "best" race arbitrary.
• His qualifying struggles in São Paulo this year, including a Q1 elimination and a pit lane start due to power unit changes on his RB21, presented another opportunity for a recovery drive.
• Despite a strong drive to third place, he lost ground to Lando Norris in the championship, underscoring the critical nature of every point.
• Verstappen stressed, "It doesn't matter if you come from the back or from the front, or it's a boring race... I'm here just to try and score the most available points every single weekend."

What's next:

• As the season progresses with three rounds remaining, Verstappen trails Norris by 49 points and Piastri by 25 points in the pursuit of his fifth-consecutive F1 drivers' title. Each upcoming race will be crucial for him to maximize points and narrow the gap.