Max Verstappen

Interesting facts

Verstappen started karting at just four years old; his father Jos Verstappen was a former F1 driver and his mother Sophie Kumpen raced karts herself, making motorsport practically a family inheritance. In 2013, at only 15, he swept three international karting titles (two European and one World Championship) in a single season, becoming the youngest-ever gearbox karting world champion. He debuted for Toro Rosso in 2015 at 17, the youngest driver ever to start a Formula One race, and in 2016, on his very first race for Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix, won at 18, overtaking Vettel's record to become the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner. At the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, he passed Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to snatch his first world title from a dead-level points battle, becoming the first Dutch F1 champion. His early aggressive driving style drew heavy criticism: Kimi Raikkonen said in 2016 he would 'cause a huge accident sooner or later,' and after a 2020 collision with Lance Stroll he had to apologize for a foul-mouthed radio outburst. His 2021 British Grand Prix collision with Hamilton produced a 51G impact that sent him for a hospital check-up. Max Verstappen has been racing in Formula 1 since 2015 as a Dutch driver. He won the World Championship 4 times, in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. He scored a total of 3589.5 championship points over his career.