"I think I would die honestly": Max Verstappen opens up on not wanting to relive the turbulent nature of the 2021 F1 Abu Dhabi GP

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen reflected on the challenging end of the 2021 season, where the Red Bull Racing driver scored his first Championship win. He opened up about his state of mind before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, specifically about how it's a race he'd like to never redo again.

On the Talking Bull podcast, Verstappen responded to a question from a fan about any race from the 2024 season he'd like to relive. The Dutchman's response had more to do with the races he wouldn't want to relive.

Speaking about the 2024 season, his pick was the Sao Paulo GP, which the four-time world champion won after starting from P17, amidst rain and a red flag. He pivoted to his first title win:

“(R)eliving my first title, that day I think I would die, honestly, a heart attack, because I remember people that saw me that day, especially my girlfriend Kelly (Piquet), she came into my room before the race, and I think normally before a race, I'm not really that nervous.

"I mean ... you're just well prepared, and there might be some nerves that you want to do well, but she said my hands were ice cold. So again, you really don't want to relive these kinds of moments. I mean they're amazing to look at but not to relive.” [18:43 - 19:13]

The end to the 2021 season came about in the final laps of the race, after a safety car that was brought out due to a crash at Turn 14 from driver Nicholas Latifi. During the safety car period, five lapped cars were between the championship rivals, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

Race director Michael Masi allowed the lapped cars to overtake the safety car, unlapping themselves. After that, there were no cars between Hamilton and Red Bull driver. After the safety car went in, there was one lap remaining, and with Verstappen on fresher tyres, he overtook the seven-time world champion to win the 2021 Drivers Championship.

Max Verstappen secured his fourth straight title this season, after his fifth-place win in the Las Vegas GP. The RBR driver finished the season with nine wins, eight pole positions and 437 points.

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Max Verstappen talks about wanting to win the 2025 Championship

Max Verstappen has won four world championships in a row, joining Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vette and Juan Manuel Fangio with four consecutive drivers championship wins.

Michael Schumacher is the only driver to win five WDCs consecutively, something Verstappen is looking to emulate:

“I'm in team that I think is capable of winning those championships, and I'm very excited what we come up with again for next year” [12:59 - 13:05]

Max Verstappen will be back on the grid for Red Bull Racing next year with new teammate, Liam Lawson, when the season begins in Melbourne, Australia, next year.