Max Verstappen - Finishing title runner-up to Lewis Hamilton won't "change my life"

Verstappen and his girlfriend Kelly Piquet — Photo: © LAT Images

Turkish Grand Prix

Verstappen - Finishing title runner-up to Hamilton won't "change my life"

Verstappen trails Hamilton by two points in the race for the title

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Thursday 7 October 2021 13:06 Updated: 13:10

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Max Verstappen has insisted losing out to Lewis Hamilton in this season's F1 title battle "is not going to really change my life".

Red Bull driver Verstappen trails Hamilton by two points in the standings, with the Mercedes driver taking the lion's share of points since Verstappen opened up a 32-point margin at the Austrian Grand Prix.

With seven rounds remaining, starting with this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix, asked as to his calm demeanour in the build-up, Verstappen pointed to the importance of not worrying.

"I always do my best and I know the team is also doing the best that they can," said Verstappen.

"If that is going to be first at the end of the year, that is, of course, an amazing achievement. That is all we work for right?

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"But even if we finish second, I think we still would have had a great season and at the end of the day, it is not really going to change my life.

"I enjoy what I am doing and I think that is very important. For me, there is not much to worry about really."

Red Bull "fully committed" to title charge

In the constructors' standings, Mercedes has completely turned the tables to take a 33-point lead into the final run of races.

Despite acknowledging the push within the team to knock Mercedes off the top spot held since 2014, Verstappen explained: "You shouldn't really stress.

"I know that my team does the best they can and they expect that from me and I always try to get the best out of that.

"We are fully committed to try and make this a success together but you cannot force things.

"You just have to work well and work hard together and then we will find out at the end of the season where that will put us. Is that first? Is that second? We don't know."