Max Verstappen has insisted that being booed on the podium doesn’t bother him in the slightest, as it’s him “who takes the silverware home”.
The three-time World Champion was booed throughout the podium celebrations last weekend at the United States Grand Prix, where he claimed his 50th GP victory and his 15th of 2023.
Most of the booing appeared to come from fans supporting Sergio Perez, who attended the US GP in their thousands.
Perez had a wholesome moment with his fans after the race, who he waved to from the pitwall whilst they were all standing on the start/finish straight.
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When asked if being booed bothers him, the Dutchman laughed and stressed that he’s not fazed by it in the slightest.
“No, no,” Verstappen told Viaplay NL if the booing bothered him.
“In the end, I’m the one who takes the silverware home, so all fine by me!”
Verstappen has now been booed by fans at the US GP for two consecutive seasons, whilst the expectation is that he’ll be on the receiving end of jeers once again this weekend at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The vast majority of the fans at the circuit this weekend will be supporting Perez, with Verstappen having received huge volumes of boos 12 months ago.
Most expect the same to happen again, although this once again doesn’t worry him in the slightest.
“Then it’s still me who’s bringing the silverware home,” Verstappen insisted.
A win for Verstappen in Mexico on Sunday will mark his 16th of the season, which will break his own record for most wins in a single season.
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The 26-year-old will be hoping to claim victory in a more comfortable manner than he did in the United States last weekend, where he recovered from sixth on the grid.
Verstappen started sixth at the Circuit of the Americas after having his best lap time in Q3 deleted for exceeding track limits.
Nevertheless, it took him just 28 laps to get to the front, where he superbly nursed a brake problem to bring his car home to yet another win.