Max Verstappen, destined to be champion

For Max Emilian Verstappen, like father, like son. The neo-world champion of Formula 1 was born on September 30, 1997, with a steering wheel in his hands, or at least in his genes. Son of Jos “the boss” Verstappen, Dutch F1 driver from 1994 to 2003 and Sophie-Marie Kumpen, Belgian FXNUMX driver karting, the blondie has been roaming the paddocks from a very young age. Obviously, young Max quickly got his start between four wheels. “He expressed his desire to drive a kart at the age of 4 and a half,” remembers his father, notably a test driver at Benetton alongside a certain Michael Schumacher.

Throwback to when Michael Schumacher met a young fan called Max Verstappen ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wKDEFUr6Qc

- ESPN F1 (@ ESPNF1) September 15, 2021

Driving a kart, he entered the Belgian and Dutch Junior championships. A double program made easier by the fact that the Verstappens have taken up residence in Bree, in Belgian Limburg and very close to the border with the Netherlands. With the logistical and financial support of his father, he joined the factory team of the kart manufacturer CRG, which entered him in international competitions.

At the age of 12, the Batavian put his schooling on hold to concentrate entirely on his passion. Max Verstappen has built up a fine track record (WSK Euro Series, WSK World Series in KF3 class, and WSK Master Series in KF2), culminating in the karting world championship in the flagship KZ 1 category in 2013. “ I can now move on to single-seaters with the certainty of having a successful final season in karting,” smiles the young champion. Max Verstappen leaves his mark, that of a stubborn go-getter, ultra-talented and sure of his superiority. At the end of the year, he carried out tests behind the wheel of Formula Renault, F2 2.0 egg F3. He fines certain drivers with much more experience than him…

Pierre Gasly (329) neck and neck with his future teammate Max Verstappen (363) during the World Series Karting in 2010. Photo Jacky Foulatier / DPPI

In 2014, the prodigal son participated in the Florida Winter Series, organized by Ferrari, for its official debut in car. The Dutchman rubs shoulders with his future opponents there Nicholas latifi et Lance stroll. The Batavian stood out by winning three pole positions and two victories. The same year, he participated in the FIA ​​F3 European Championship with the Dutch team Van Amersfoort. For his rookie year, he pocketed 10 victories and finished 3rd in the championship, behind Tom Blomqvist and Esteban Ocon. During the season, he joined the Red Bull Junior Team, while Mercedes also followed its development…

From his first season in single-seaters, Max Verstappen has had a string of victories. Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

Precocity records

Without going through the GP2 box, Max Verstappen is announced by Toro Rosso as a driver for the 1 F2015 season! Criticisms about his very young age (17 years) are brushed aside by Helmut Marko, head of the young talent sector in Milton Keynes, praising his “extraordinary performances.” The Dutchman breaks all records for precocity (youngest driver to start, youngest driver to score points). At the wheel of a far from ridiculous STR10, he is more than on par with his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. (three years older than him) and is regularly in the points. His passage exam in the big leagues, where he does not hesitate to bruise the egos, is validated.

The Dutchman made the leap to F1 without any problems. Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

The following season, there remained only three small races, finished in the points, in the bosom of Faenza before receiving the phone call that changed his young career. Red Bull informed him of his tenure at Milton Keynes to replace Daniil Kvyat, who had returned to Toro Rosso. “Max has proven that he is an exceptional young driver,” explains Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal. His performances with Toro Rosso are impressive and we are delighted to offer him the opportunity to race with us.” Starting 4th in Montmelo, he had a front-row seat to the Rosberg collision – Hamilton and closely follows his new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian, on a three-stop strategy, leaves control of the GP to Verstappen, who only makes two. With astonishing maturity, the Dutchman resisted the attacks of Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) to become the youngest winner in the history of F1, at 18 years and 228 days, exploding the record previously held by Sebastian Vettel (21 years and 74 days).

Incredible Verstappen who, in his first race with Red Bull, became the youngest winner in F1 history. Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

Formula 1, as “in shock” as Christian Horner, has found a new jewel to polish, but its edges remain sharp… The aggressive style of Max Verstappen, due as much to his aggressiveness as to his youth, makes one cringe teeth in the paddock. Horner is forced to call his colt to order after a pile-up at the Belgian GP. The Batavian does not lose his remarkable steering skills. 16th, 15 laps from the finish of a rainy Brazilian GP, ​​he offered a demonstration which took him to the podium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf71xPW2Ej0

After the revelation, the learning

The 2017 season is less idyllic for Verstappen, not helped by the uncertain reliability of the RB13. Despite 7 retirements, he finished the season strong by signing his 2nd and 3rd successes at Sepang and Mexico. Again in 2018. Once again, he only won twice (Spielberg and Mexico) but he gained in consistency and reached the podium 11 times, as many times as the two previous seasons. On the other hand, he has many disappointing results following track excursions or collisions. True to his reputation, he shows his fangs when we notice his propensity to cross the limits: “I'm tired of these questions. If I have any more, I might headbutt someone.” Christian Horner must calm things down, encouraging his driver to stop making mistakes and take an example from Daniel Ricciardo, winner in Shanghai and Monaco. After his Mexican success, he lost a victory that seemed promised to him at Interlagos. He and Esteban Ocon collide, allowing Lewis Hamilton to pull the chestnuts out of the fire. The Dutchman even comes to blows with the Frenchman!

After having skipped the steps, Max Verstappen continues his learning of F1, not without damage. Photo DPPI

From mad dog to thoroughbred

For his 5th season in Formula 1, Max Verstappen truly takes a step forward, both in performance and in racing science, but above all he changes his status. At just 22 years old, he becomes the natural leader at Milton Keynes following the departure of Daniel Ricciardo to Renault. His teammates, Pierre Gasly then Alexander albon, will remain in its shadow. Red Bull becomes his team. For the first season of collaboration with the engine manufacturer Honda, the driver at No. 33 begins the year with twelve top 5s in a row and seems the only one capable of breaking Mercedes' domination. Verstappen broadens his range and displays Red Bull's progress by signing the first pole positions of his career. After another victory in Austria, he kept his head cool to win during the incredible German and Brazilian GPs.

The Dutchman is a master in the art of pulling his weight during Grand Prix events with twists and turns. Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

In 2020, Red Bull locks in the future of its colt until 2023. “Red Bull believed in me and gave me the opportunity to start in Formula 1 and I will always be grateful to them,” greeted Verstappen. I want to win with this team and our goal is of course to fight together for the world championship.” The Dutchman still has to wait as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are crushing the competition. Max Verstappen nevertheless does what is necessary to assert himself as their main rival. During a season cut short by Covid, he won two GPs (70th anniversary at Silverstone and Abu Dhabi), reached 11 podiums and finished 3rd again in the world championship.

Max Verstappen must bow to the superiority of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

For the last year of collaboration between Milton Keynes and Honda, and before the regulatory revolution, Red Bull is going “All in” on the championship, anticipating a drop in speed for the Silver Arrows. Max Verstappen meets expectations. The Batavian strips off his crazy dog ​​trappings of yesteryear to don the purebred suit. Now 24 years old, the Batavian is reaching a new milestone and confirming all the hopes placed in him for so many years. He refines his knowledge of racing, refines his driving, masters tire management and shines in the flying lap exercise. Above all, it offers F1 and its fans what they have been waiting for for a long time: a duel with Lewis Hamilton.

The Briton defends his territory and each of their fights is muscular, sometimes excessively, as at Silverstone, Monza and Jeddah. Winner ten times this season, the native of Hasselt (Belgium) finally triumphed on the evening of the Abu Dhabi GP by going for victory on the last lap after a final restart of the Safety Car, despite the immense pressure put on him. by its English rival, de facto opening its single-seater track record.

The first Dutchman crowned in Formula 1 is a fine champion, a racer the old style which combines panache, the art of combat and talent. But Max Verstappen's greatest victory surely lies in fulfilling his destiny, the one his father could not achieve. Like father, like son !