Cramp almost cost crying Verstappen F1 title in fight with Hamilton
Max Verstappen has revealed the last lap of the championship battle with Lewis Hamilton came with his "worst experience" as a driver.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner celebrate in Abu Dhabi. (Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
Speaking at the post-season Formula 1 test in Abu Dhabi after having time to reflect title victory, Verstappen spoke about several key moments of the final-lap battle.
"It's just an incredible feeling right now," said Verstappen.
"I'm still a bit destroyed from last night; everything from the whole season is coming out."
"Insane, intense, crazy… the season in general, but also yesterday."
"At the moment, I'm just incredibly happy."
"To become world champion was of course my final goal in Formula One. I'm very happy that it happened and, as I said yesterday, everything else that happens now is just a bonus."
Max Verstappen on the podium at Yas Marina Circuit. (Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
The Red Bull driver confessed that he had suffered a massive cramp during the final lap.
"My last lap when I was fighting Lewis, I had a cramp already starting the lap and that just lasted the whole [time]."
"Every time I was going full throttle it was terrible."
"So I was fighting him, then defending and I just felt my muscles coming together and it almost became like a tennis ball."
"It was terrible."
"It was like the worst experience you can have in terms of your calf muscle just dying on you."
Pushing through the pain to overtake Hamilton for his first Formula 1 championship victory, Verstappen was overcome with emotion.
"I was crying on the end lap, there's no hiding about it."
"It was just insane, the whole lap."
"I couldn't believe it. Just the stress of the whole season, the whole battle, and then it looked like it was not going your way."
"Suddenly it turns around in a crazy fashion and it does come your way; it couldn't have been more dramatic."
