With an exciting February poking out the first glimpses of a new Formula 1 season, the current World Champion crowned at Abu Dhabi last year finally spoke in an interview for The Guardian recalling the polemic, breathtaking and exciting 2021 season finale when he finally accomplished his dream of becoming World Champion.

The young driver expressed how it was getting out of the car and meeting his father and his team, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen: “I thought he could die because it looked like he was about to have a heart attack. He was so pale, it was incredible. His skin color was definitely not healthy.”

He explains they both were “Like: ‘We did it!’”

The younger Verstappen also had a word to recognize the greatness in defeat shown by Lewis Hamilton at the very end of the Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.

“I only saw him quickly, when we took our helmets off, and I think it was: ‘Congrats, man.’ I don’t even know the words any more. But it was nice of him, of course, to immediately come over.”

Verstappen admits he has no sympathy for who was his title rival the whole 2021 year facing the fate of failure: “Yeah, but just look back on the seven you have. I don’t think it’s so bad, is it?” as Lewis Hamilton saw the record-breaking 8th WDC slip through his fingers.

When asked if he thought Mercedes’ allegations and appeals worried him, the Dutchman said to McRae: “Not that it could be taken away from me but just it was dragging on. That whole night we were waiting and then the result came out.”

In a hectic year that saw a superlative fight for the world championship, Verstappen is sure: “You can’t have that drama every single year, for sure. It’s not good for me, it’s not healthy for anyone in the team, both teams.”

And speaking of drama, one of the moments that will surely go down in history at the 2021’s F1 season books is the final outcome of the unforgettable circumstances in which the British GP at Silverstone developed when Verstappen and Hamilton had a high-speed incident that caused the retirement of the first to end in the victory of the second.

“It was the most painful one of all,” says the reigning World Champion about the crash that saw him hitting the barriers in Copse with an average of a 51G force.

“It was tough points-wise but literally, it was very painful. My neck, my back, my shoulders. I’m quite tough and I can take quite a hit but it’s not good for your body or your brain to have an impact like that. I got home and for four days I was not watching TV or doing any sim racing because your brain has to rest.”

With the 2022 brand new F1 season just around the corner, the 24-year-old spoke about the regulations changes hitting F1 this year in what will be his eighth season competing in the category pinnacle of motorsport: “It depends on what people find within the regulations. Maybe there is a grey area or a loophole.”

The Dutchman concluded his exclusive interview with The Guardian assuring he’ll be back for more now that he has tasted victory, in a journey that will begin tomorrow when Red Bull’s 2022 challenger, the RB18, is finally presented.

“That little pressure in the back of your mind, of having to win a world championship or trying to win it, has gone. It’s already happened. I’ve done it. So when it’s tough or you’re having bad luck you probably will deal with it easier than normal.”

This time tomorrow... 👀 We launch the #RB18 💪 pic.twitter.com/9d5KJ0LGGc

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) February 8, 2022