AT 18 YEARS OLD, THE BELGIUM-BORN TRACK EXTRAORDINAIRE MAX VERSTAPPEN BECAME THE YOUNGEST DRIVER TO EVER WIN AN F1 RACE, AND HE’S BEEN ON THE FAST TRACK EVER SINCE, WITH THREE FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPION TITLES UNDER HIS BELT

BY EVAN MONROE

Born in 1997 in Hasselt, Belgium, and raised in the Netherlands, Max Verstappen practically had a steering wheel in his crib. His dad, Jos Verstappen, was a former Formula 1 driver, and his mom, Sophie Kumpen, was a karting champion, thus Verstappen’s destiny was always written in rubber and gasoline.

By age seven, the hungry racer was already dominating karting circuits across Europe. In 2014, when he was just a teenager, he jumped straight from karting into Formula 3, dazzling fans and scouts with his aggressive, fearless driving style. Within a year, he became the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 Grand Prix at just 17 years old, a full two years younger than the previous record holder, Jaime Alguersuari. (Fun fact: Verstappen raced in Formula 1 before he even obtained his driver’s license.)

But the real fireworks began in 2016, when Red Bull Racing promoted him mid-season. In his debut race with the team (the Spanish Grand Prix), he became the youngest-ever F1 race winner at just 18 years old. He’s been smashing records and rivals ever since.

Fast forward to today, and Verstappen is a three-time Formula 1 World Champion (2021, 2022, and 2023), known for his fierce overtakes, laser-sharp focus, and relentless drive. In 2023, he won 19 out of 22 races, a staggering feat that sealed his reputation as the man to beat.

Off the track, Verstappen is known as surprisingly laid-back. He’s a fan of sim racing, often jumping into online races for fun (and dominating those too, of course). He’s also known for his dry humor, zero-nonsense attitude, and tight-knit bond with his crew, especially his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, aka GP.

At just 27, he’s already rewritten the F1 record books, and he’s showing no signs of lifting off. Fans and rivals alike are wondering not if he’ll win more titles, but how many. Whether it’s chasing Schumacher level legacy, mentoring future drivers, or even branching into other motorsports (he’s hinted at Le Mans or endurance racing someday), one thing’s clear: Verstappen’s race is far from over

Max Verstappen
@maxverstappen