Jenson Button thinks Max Verstappen was lying about what he said regarding the title race and his championship prospects.
Verstappen recently gave his thoughts on his title chances. He stated that he would not be too bothered if he lost.
“For me personally, that doesn’t really matter too much,” he had said, as quoted by Planet F1.
“It would be great (to win the title) this year, but if it doesn’t work out and we can say we have a good car and we have a chance, it will feel good as well.
“I think every time you’re in a fight in general, you know that makes you feel good already.”
Button revealed that he thinks Verstappen was lying about his potential mood if he loses his championship.
“I love it when drivers tell themselves that,” the 2009 World Champion said.
“Of course he does (want to win), that’s why he’s racing in Formula 1, that’s why he started racing in the first place because he wanted to win the World Championship.
“And this one has to rank…you know, if he goes and wins the next 10, I have a feeling this is the one that’s the most important.
“It’s your first, but it’s also up against the seven-time World Champion. So it’s a pretty big year.”
Take your chance
“And also next year, you really don’t know what will happen with the regulation change and Mercedes might leap in front again and they won’t be able to fight them,” he said.
“So who knows – you’ll take your opportunity when you can.
“I’m sure he knows that. He’s just trying to play it down so he can really relax and focus on his racing.
“These guys don’t want to have that issue. If it did happen, yes, it would take away from the championship and both drivers know that. They don’t want to do that.
“I think they will keep it clean, I really do. I just hope circuit limits don’t come into play and that’s what chooses who wins the championship,” he concluded.
Read more: Button discusses Bottas’ ‘weird’ switch to Alfa Romeo – “First time he’s had that in F1”