Verstappen: If I win, I don't care who likes me

Max Verstappen says he is happy to give up popularity among his fellow Formula 1 drivers if it helps him realise his dream of becoming world drivers' champion.

The Dutchman certainly made a splash upon debuting in F1 and then stepping up to Red Bull in just his second campaign on the grid, with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen both taking umbrage with his fiery on-track antics.

While Verstappen has mellowed on-track somewhat as the years has gone on, he remains one of the hardest racers on the grid, as discovered by Charles Leclerc in Austria this year when the Dutchman barged his way past for victory.

That move has sparked F1's rule-makers to change their thinking and let racers race more, something which is to Verstappen's liking as he goes in search of glory.

"I don't want to sound arrogant or disrespectful to others," Verstappen told 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."

"Like overtaking, if I have to touch, I'll touch. It's not like it always needs to be in the cleanest 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."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Toto Wolff at odds with drivers as F1 war rages off the track

• Just now

F1 teams just did something the FIA weren't expecting - here's what it means

• 1 hour ago

F1 secure NEW '£1BILLION UK TV deal'

• 3 hours ago

George Russell out of excuses after Miami GP battering: 'Just laid down and taken it'

• Today 14:27

Wolff fears 'Italian public' problem with new F1 superstar Kimi Antonelli

• Today 12:56

Fernando Alonso just dropped the coldest truth bomb on Aston Martin F1 project

• Today 11:57