Verstappen pinpoints turning point in Perez battle

Max Verstappen has described when he believes the turning point in the intra-team battle with Sergio Perez came this year.

Verstappen and Perez won two races apiece in the opening four rounds of the campaign to leave them separated by one point in the Drivers’ Championship.

However, Verstappen then started a 10-race win streak to set a new record for Formula 1.

The winning run began at the Miami Grand Prix, a race that Perez started from pole position before being caught and overtaken by Verstappen, who had started ninth.

On where the tide turned in his favour, the Dutchman told ServusTV: “It’s hard to say, but after Miami and the subsequent races, the feeling was very good.

“Then followed 10 wins, so then, you do think it [a World Championship] will happen.

"At the end of the day, this is a hard sport. Of course, we are team-mates and we work well together, with Pierre [Gasly] and Alex [Albon] I did the same.

“It's hard to say why different things sometimes don't quite go the way they should.”

Verstappen 'calmer'

Verstappen secured the third F1 title of his career in Qatar, joining an exclusive list to have achieved the feat.

"It is of course very special," he said. "I never thought this was possible.

“I have three titles and am on a par with big names in F1 history."

Detailing how he has changed across the three title-winning campaigns, Verstappen added: "I am much more experienced now. In terms of pace, I was fast in 2021 too, but maybe I'm a bit calmer now.

“The first title was already won, the second one too, so then you are a bit calmer and also you have a bit more life experience. That always helps."