Racing is attractive for its entertainment and danger. The best pilots compete at maximum speeds, driving high-tech cars. Fans watch the races with bated breath or visit 1xBet India site to place bets. However, only a few pilots are known to the general public. Today, we will talk about a driver who has already become a legend: Max Verstappen.
How Max Verstappen Started His F1 Journey
ver, three-time Formula 1 champion (2021, 2022, 2023), and the only driver from the Netherlands to win the “royal races.” In addition, by taking part in the training for the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Max, who was preparing to celebrate his 17th birthday, went down in history as the youngest participant in the Formula 1 stage. In his debut season in 2016 as a combat pilot, Verstappen became the hero of the song “Super Max!” by the Dutch band Pitstop Boys and then the author of many memes.
Max Verstappen was born on September 30, 1997 in the city of Hasselt, the capital of the Belgian province of Limburg, into a family with deep motorsport traditions. His father, Jos Verstappen, was a Formula 1 driver from 1993 to 2004. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, competed in karting tournaments, while his grandfather Paul and uncle Anthony competed in GT racing.
Although Max’s mother is Belgian and he grew up in Belgium, the driver says that he feels more Dutch and, therefore, competes under a Dutch license. If only he could say otherwise! The Dutchman Verstappen Sr. kept his son in an iron fist, purposefully raising him to conquer the main peak of motorsport, which Jos himself never reached.
Toughness bordering on cruelty towards his son? All means, even such risky ones, were put into action to realize the dream of an ambitious parent, who earned a reputation as a truth-teller during his racing career and was nicknamed Jos The Boss by fans. A strict regime, starting from the age of four, merciless criticism of the slightest mistakes, open humiliation, physical abuse (also towards his youngest daughter and wife), a scandalous divorce of his parents – all this could have broken Max, but it did not.
Verstappen Jr. is cruel only in the fight on the race track and outside it; having broken a strong family tradition on the male side, he does not use his fists with or without reason. The push in the chest of Esteban Ocon, the driver of the Force India team, who, stubbornly resisting, did not allow Max to win the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix, is perhaps an exception. And no wonder. One day, Max will say: “In Formula 1, nothing surprised me because no one treated me as harshly as my father.” But Jos overlooked something. The fear of spiders in his son certainly does not fit with the image of a macho.
They say that Jos invested about half a million dollars to ensure that the initial stage of his son’s racing career was as successful and productive as possible. Jos The Boss himself, whose grandfather, the owner of a junkyard, lived in a trailer, could not even dream of such support. However, his father’s financial capabilities would not have made Max a racer if the boy had not been drawn to motorsports. The kart he begged from his parents became the future champion’s favorite toy.
His debut in competitions at the age of seven immediately turned out to be a victory, although his opponents were two or three years older. Instructions of Genes and Jos, which he took as a guide to action, came down to the fact that it was necessary to attack at the limit from the first lap, played a role. From 2006 to 2013, Max became the champion of many karting competitions in various classes.
Winning His First World Championship
In 2014, only with great difficulty was the 16-year-old registered as a Formula 3 pilot, and in his debut European Championship, Max climbed to the podium 16 times in 33 races, immediately becoming a bronze medalist. This achievement did not go unnoticed. The grandees of Formula 1, the Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull teams showed interest in the young talent. The Austrian “bulls” turned out to be the most efficient and sent Max to undergo a “young fighter course” as a test pilot on their farm, Scuderia Toro Rosso.
It is curious that it was in the Italian team, then called Minardi, that Jos Verstappen ended his career. His successor became the official Toro Rosso pilot in 2015. Considering the modest potential of the STR10 car with a low-power, by Formula 1 standards, and unreliable Renault engine, the first attempt was definitely not a flop: with four retirements, nine finishes in the points zone, and a final 12th place in the personal standings. At the same time, Max competed for most of the season without having a regular driver’s license. The driver received it on a general basis on his 18th birthday.
In 2016, Verstappen Jr. only ran the first four races for Toro Rosso and then was promoted to the main team, Red Bull, making a casting move with Russian Daniil Kvyat. Max justified the advance payment: on May 15, 2016, having won the European Grand Prix, the Dutchman, who was not yet 19 at the time, became the youngest winner of a Formula 1 stage. On that day, Jos, unable to contain his emotions, hugged his son with happiness. At the same time, three-time Formula 1 champion Austrian Niki Lauda, who was a part of the Mercedes team staff, called Verstappen Jr. “the talent of the century.” Max’s head did not spin, and at the end of the season, he took fifth place in the personal standings.
In the 2017-2020 seasons, under the dominance of the Mercedes team, Verstappen Jr. often won two or three races in close battles, took two podiums 11 times, and finished third in the drivers’ standings. These successes turned Max into a favorite within Red Bull, which created a problem in finding a suitable teammate for the talented Dutchman.
The Red Bull Partnership: A Perfect Match for Success
Recently, the media has been actively discussing Verstappen’s possible departure from Red Bull. However, the player and the team are connected not only by a contract. Max has repeatedly declared his loyalty to the team. Red Bull noticed the young talent and gave him a chance to develop in professional racing. Together with the team, Verstappen won a series of victories. His talent is undeniable, but his explosive nature and lack of experience required serious management, which Max received in the team. In addition, he was attracted by the technical superiority of Red Bull cars.
The combination was truly victorious. Powerful cars and the driver’s abilities quickly yielded results. Now Verstappen is deservedly considered the star of the team, and not without reason.
Records and Milestones: Verstappen’s Impact on F1 History
Max Verstappen recently turned 27 – and he is already a three-time Formula 1 champion. Not the youngest, not the youngest multiple champion (those achievements belong to Sebastian Vettel), but after 185 Grands Prix and a couple of seasons of phenomenal dominance, people have started to talk about his greatness. Last season alone, he set several records.
Victories
Verstappen has the highest number and percentage of wins in a season – 19 out of 22 and 86.4%. Max has also won 10 Grands Prix in a row and is the only driver to win three times in one country in a single season (Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas).
Special Victories
Verstappen has won the most races from pole (13). Max has the most consecutive wins from pole (18) and in sprints (7).
Points
During the season, the driver scored 575 points out of a possible 620. In addition, Max scored the most consecutive points (1004) and created the largest points gap between first and second place in the championship (290).
Leadership
Verstappen led the most laps this season (1003/1325 and 75.7%). Max also spent the most races as the championship leader (39, including last season).
Podiums
The driver has the most podiums this season (21 in 22 Grands Prix) and consecutive top-2 finishes (23).
Verstappen’s Legacy Beyond Red Bull: What’s Next?
Since Honda’s exit from motorsport, there has been increasing talk of Verstappen leaving for a team with more serious technical capabilities. The driver’s father was even spotted negotiating with Ferrari. Of course, these were just personal conversations, not an official offer of transfer. The Red Bull team is also making every effort to keep their star. The managers have slightly changed the driver’s contract to hedge their bets and avoid its early termination.
Max himself did not answer the journalists’ questions with anything specific. He said that he is not thinking about the future yet and wants to focus on the current season. One thing is certain: Verstappen is definitely not going to stop and wants to set new records.
Conclusion
There is much to say about Verstappen. Some criticize his unstable, explosive character. Others admire his victories and idealize him. One thing is certain: the Dutchman is very talented. The athlete has already come a long way and written himself into the history of motorsport. We hope that he has new and brilliant victories ahead.
