At 24 years, 2 months and 12 days, he joined the list of Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Born to win in Formula 1, Dutchman Max Verstappen fulfilled his mission at the age of 24, becoming Formula 1 world champion for the first time this Sunday, a destiny that his parents, both drivers, began to forge.
“The whole family lived for the race, so I think that the person Max is and what he achieves at this moment is something natural,” his manager Raymond Vermeulen told AFP, who knows what he is talking about.
He was already associated with his father, the Dutchman Jos Verstappen, 107 races between 1994 and 2003, with two podiums the first year.
His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was the partner of another Formula 1 world champion, Jenson Button, in karting. The Belgian was “a fantastic driver, very fast,” recalled the Briton on the F1 podcast.
Not surprising because Max – always ahead of his age, according to his manager – became the youngest driver to start a grand prix, in 2015 at 17 years, 5 months and 15 days, wearing the colors of Toro Rosso.
Then he was the youngest winner, at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016, at 18 years, 7 months and 15 days, in his first season with Red Bull.
Records for earliness don’t stop there. By crowning himself this Sunday, the Dutchman, born in Belgium on September 30, 1997 and long-time resident of Monaco, became only the fourth youngest champion, at 24 years, 2 months and 12 days, behind of Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Tame your temper
Nor can it be said that he has wasted time. This season was the first in which his team has provided him with a car capable of rivaling the Mercedes of seven-time world champion Hamilton.
Insolent at first, the impetuous Max has learned to tame his temper on the track, showing since last year a greater capacity for reflection and sympathy.
Far from that version that uselessly collided with Esteban Ocon in the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix, before pushing the Frenchman in front of the cameras, or threatening the media when they asked him about his mistakes in Canada that same year.
He remains a driver who leaves nothing behind, as could be seen in his battles with Hamilton this year; in Great Britain, Italy or Brazil.
It must be said that the Dutchman had a good teacher: His father Jos was never the nicest man in the ‘paddock’.
‘Maturity’
But now ‘Mad Max’ is the undisputed leader of an ambitious team like Red Bull.
“It has simply grown in maturity. He has more experience in Formula 1 and in life, he is very comfortable, he is well in the team, with confidence and that is what he feels, “said his boss Christian Horner last year.
A maturity translated into results, with two third places in the World Cup, in 2019 and 2020, the best possible result behind the untouchable Mercedes.
True to some of his customs, Verstappen did not give many details last year about his change.
“I think you grow every year, you progress but you also learn to know your team better. It may seem like I’m serious or something like that, but I’m fun, I hope, ”he told AFP.
What he does not abandon is provocation. For example, when asked what his best purchase was, he replied: “My girlfriend”, referring to Kelly Piquet (daughter of triple F1 world champion Nelson Piquet), with whom he is frequently shown on social networks. (D)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
