Max Verstappen has denied he “lost interest” in F1 amid Red Bull's slump in form earlier in the season.
The Dutchman endured a difficult run of form during the European leg of the season and went on a run of four races without a trip to the podium.
However, Red Bull has since enjoyed a surge in performance, with Verstappen winning three out of the last four races.
Following his latest victory last weekend in the US, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko stated that Verstappen “lost interest” in F1 when his on-track results were not successful.
Asked if he agreed with Marko’s verdict, Verstappen told media including RacingNews365: “No, I don't.
“It's more enjoyable coming to the race weekends like this than knowing that you don't have a chance to win.
“But I know for myself that when I sit in the car, I will always try to maximise everything that I have, and I give it everything.
“So even if I'm fighting for P4 or even a P9, I will always try to get the best out of it.
“I will be happy or not happy with certain results.”
Verstappen entered a non-F1 race in September, winning a four-hour endurance race at the famous Nordschleife track.
The four-time champion asserted his entry to the race had nothing to do with being disengaged from F1 amid Red Bull's difficult stretch.
“Allowing me to do other stuff, this has been planned already for a long time,” he said.
“So it's not that this has suddenly come on the radar, because these things have to be planned well in advance, and the preparation for it as well.
“It allowed me this year to compete in real life, that was the first opportunity. But I've been doing this also online a lot, even racing during the F1 weekends.
“So there's nothing really that has changed in terms of how professional I approach my race weekend.”
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