Max Verstappen: Young, gifted and determined four-time F1 champion

At 27, Max Verstappen, who has sealed a fourth straight world title, is a veteran of 10 Formula One seasons where he has forced officials and aficionados to seemingly spend as much time consulting rule books as record books.

The close battle this season brought the fighter into an often-under-pressure Verstappen and again drew criticism for his willingness to push the rules in his brushes with rivals.

Verstappen shrugged off condemnation for the way he tried to hold off title rival Lando Norris in the Mexican Grand Prix.

“I think I know what I’m doing,” he said. “Some people are just a little biased, I understand that, that’s fine. It’s not my problem at the end of the day.”

Verstappen comes from racing stock. His Dutch father Jos drove for eight Formula 1 seasons. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was a Belgian karting champion.

He started karting in 2005 and picked up titles as he progressed through the classes, finishing with a record-breaking season in 2013.

Verstappen spent the 2014 season winning races in F3. He joined the Red Bull development team and drove an official practice session in a Toro Rosso at the Japanese Grand Prix, three days after his 17th birthday.

When he made his race debut in a Toro Rosso in Australia in the 2015 season opener, he became the youngest ever Formula 1 driver by almost two years.

Motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, responded by changing the rules for Formula driver super licenses. Among other things, they demanded possession of an actual driver’s license.

By the time Verstappen met that condition, after his 18th birthday in September 2015, he had driven 14 Grands Prix.

– Pedestrian crossing –

He said he almost failed his test for challenging the examiner over the rules as he approached a crossing.

“I argued with him because I thought they weren’t at the intersection,” he said. “They’re not here yet, so why would I stop? But yeah, luckily I stopped to let them pass… I think the examiner was kind to me.”

He followed that with another coming-of-age ritual, leaving his father’s home and moving to Monaco, “not for tax reasons,” he emphasized.

Verstappen started the 2016 season with Toro Rosso, but was promoted to Red Bull after four races. He won his major team debut, the Spanish Grand Prix, to become the youngest ever F1 winner, two years and 210 days younger than Sebastian Vettel in 2008.

Vettel had become the youngest world champion in 2010, the first of four consecutive world championships with Red Bull.

Verstappen’s youthful promotion was to a team that had been eclipsed by Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton.

It would take Red Bull and Verstappen until 2021 to catch up.

After Honda replaced Renault as engine supplier in 2019 and following upgrades ahead of the 2021 season, Verstappen’s Red Bull was quick enough.

He and Hamilton traded blows in a duel that at times resembled a demolition derby

Verstappen came out of Silverstone worse. At Monza the pair took each other out of the race.

In Saudi Arabia, Verstappen caused a late crash, but Hamilton still won. The two men went into the final race in Abu Dhabi tied on points.

Hamilton led late when the safety car came out. The officials allowed lapped cars to pass the driver, giving Verstappen a clear overtake when the race restarted on the final lap. He shot past to take his first world title.

– ‘Feet on the ground’ –

That moment proved to be one of Formula 1’s tipping points.

In 2022, Verstappen won 15 of the 22 races to beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the title by 146 points.

In 2023, he delivered the most dominant season in F1, winning 19 out of 22 races, finishing second in two others and scoring 575 points. Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was second at 285.

“Will it be achieved again in my lifetime?” Red Bull boss Christian Horner said. “I don’t think we’ll be able to improve on what we’ve done this year.”

The prophecy soon came true. Verstappen was pushed to the limit by the improving McLarens and Ferraris but found a way to win a fourth title.

Verstappen has acquired the suit of Formula 1 life. He bought a jet in 2021. Since 2020, he has been in a relationship with model Kelly Piquet, daughter of three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson.

“As a person, he hasn’t changed,” Horner said in 2023. “He’s still got his feet on the ground. All the fame that comes with that sits uncomfortably with him because he’s just a racer and a very straightforward guy to work with.”

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