Newly crowned F1 World Champion Max Verstappen, speaking to Sky Sports F1 the day after the dramatic night before, reveals a text message from Toto Wolff after the Abu Dhabi GP and praises rival Lewis Hamilton; “Of course we had our tough times through the season but in the end we were respectful”
“Toto sent me a text [saying] congratulations on the season, I deserved to win it,” said Verstappen. “That was nice of him of course, emotions ran very high through that last lap from both sides of both teams.”
Verstappen insisted the controversial climax to the race did not take the shine off his achievement, while he also spoke of his admiration for Hamilton, saying he did not believe there would be a protest if it was up to his great rival.
“Of course it helps that you also have seven titles, I think that comforts him a bit,” Verstappen told Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater on the same media call.
“I think if it was the other way around, it would have been more painful for me, because I didn’t have one!”
He added of Hamilton, with whom he endured an epic and often fierce season-long battle: “Lewis has been a great sportsman in general.
“He came up to me, congratulated me and it must have been very tough in that last lap. It also shows the respect we had for each other, in general.
“Of course we had our tough times through the season but in the end we were respectful of what we were doing and we were pushing each other to the limit the whole season. It has been really enjoyable racing against him.”
