Max Verstappen says only "bad luck" will derail him as he hunts for the 2025 Formula 1 drivers' championship. Adding that he will simply "give everything", he has the McLaren drivers in his sights.
Speaking to The Inside Track ahead of qualifying for the Mexico Grand Prix, the four-time champion played down his chances.
“It’s not about if I will win it or not,” he said. “I know that when I jump in the car, I will give it everything I have and that’s the only thing that I can do.”
Pressed on what could interrupt his attack on the championship lead, the Red Bull driver didn't hold back: "I guess bad luck. Yeah, bad luck,” he said.
"I mean, you can have a crash, you can get hit, you can have a puncture, you can have an untimely safety car, you can get sick, you can slip in the shower, you break your leg. Yeah.
"I mean, anything can happen, right? So, I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it too much, you know? I just come here and I hope that we can have a strong weekend here again, which of course will help for the championship.”
With him currently sat behind Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with the latter leading the championship by 12 points over his team-mate, the Dutchman is relaxed in his pursuit as he trails the leader by 40 points.
“I always said that, I mean, if you win it - great, right? It’s always great to add another title to it. But at the same time, I don’t need to, in a sense.
"So that takes a lot of pressure away, but I also know for myself that when I sit in the car, I will always maximise everything that I have.”
Verstappen has mounted a late-season push against the Woking team, with him now within striking distance as they head into the race in Mexico City. Coming off three wins in the last four grands prix, his confidence in his machinery is increasing.
While the altitude of the Mexican circuit means this won't be a straightforward race for any of the teams, he isn't leaving his chances of a fifth championship win to fate.
Photos from Mexican GP - Practice & Qualifying
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
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