MIAMI — Max Verstappen shrugged off the boos he acquired earlier than and after successful the Miami Grand Prix, saying he solely cares about going house from a race weekend with the winner’s trophy.
The reigning champion received Sunday’s race from ninth on the grid, overtaking Crimson Bull teammate Sergio Perez for the lead on lap 48 of 57.
Within the construct as much as the race, all 20 drivers had been offered to the Miami crowd in reverse championship order on the entrance of the grid, with Verstappen rising final. There have been audible boos from the group as Verstappen emerged on a brief stage and once more on the rostrum when he acquired his winner’s trophy.
However Verstappen, who has been booed up to now throughout his tight title combat in 2021 with Lewis Hamilton, mentioned the response from the small part of the group had no influence on him.
“I believe if I might be driving at the back of the grid no one would do something when it comes to response — it is regular if you find yourself successful and so they don’t love who’s successful,” Verstappen mentioned. “It is one thing for me that’s completely nice.
“So long as I stand on the highest of the rostrum that’s an important [thing]. I take the trophy house and so they [the booing fans] return to their homes and so they can have a pleasant night.”
Verstappen began ninth on the grid in Miami after making a mistake on his first Q3 qualifying lap on Saturday after which lacking out on the prospect for a second try because of a purple flag. Regardless of beginning out of place, Verstappen was as much as second place by lap 15 and inside 1.3s of race chief Perez by lap 20.
Requested if he felt unbeatable, Verstappen mentioned: “I at all times really feel unbeatable. However typically different folks even have a extremely good day and they are often near you, or match you and be forward.
“However I believe what’s vital is to attempt to be near one hundred pc or excellent each single time. Yesterday wasn’t excellent, so total