Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen

Verstappen in 2014
Born	Max Emilian Verstappen 30 September 1997 Hasselt, Belgium
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Dutch
2016 team	Toro Rosso-Ferrari[1] Red Bull-TAG Heuer[2]
Car number	33
Entries	23 (23 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	62
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	2015 Australian Grand Prix
Last entry	2016 Russian Grand Prix
2015 position	12th (49 pts)
Previous series
2014	FIA European Formula Three Championship

Max Emilian Verstappen (Dutch pronunciation: [mɑks eːˈmiliɑn vɛrˈstɑpən]; born 30 September 1997, Hasselt, Belgium)^[3] is a Belgian-Dutch racing driver who competes under the Dutch flag in Formula One with Red Bull Racing racing team. Verstappen is the youngest F1 Grand Prix driver in the history of the sport, having made his début aged 17 years, 166 days, at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix.^[4] He is the son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen.

Family and private life

Verstappen's family has a long association with motor sports. His father, Jos Verstappen, is a former Formula One driver, while his mother, Sophie Kumpen, competed in karting. ^[5] His uncle, Anthony Kumpen, competed in endurance racing and is currently a NASCAR Whelen Euro Series driver.^[5]

Although he was born in the Belgian town of Hasselt to a Dutch father and Belgian mother,^[6] lives in Bree, Belgium and travels with a Belgian passport, Verstappen decided to compete with a Dutch racing licence as he spent most of his karting time surrounded by Dutch people while growing up in Maaseik, a Belgian town at the Dutch border.^[6]

Verstappen competed in Formula One for more than half a season before obtaining a road driver's licence, which he did on his 18th birthday on 30 September 2015.^[7]

Career history

Karting

Verstappen began karting at age 4½. He competed in the Mini Junior championship of his home province of Limburg (Belgium).^[8] In 2006, Verstappen graduated to the Rotax Max Minimax class and won the Belgian championship.^[9] In 2007, Verstappen won the Dutch Minimax championship.^[10] Racing in a CRG kart entered by his father, Verstappen won the Dutch and Belgian Minimax championship as well as the Belgian Cadet championship.^[11][12]

In 2009, Verstappen joined Team Pex Racing, a CRG customer team. That year, he won the Flemish Minimax championship and the Belgian KF5 championship.^[13][14] In 2010, Verstappen stepped up to international karting. He was signed by CRG to race in their factory team at world and European championships. At the KF3 World Cup, Verstappen finished second to the more experienced Alexander Albon.^[15] Verstappen beat Albon at the WSK Euro Series. He also won the WSK World Series, beating Robert Vișoiu.^[16]

In 2011, Verstappen won the WSK Euro Series in an Parilla-powered CRG.^[17] In 2012, Verstappen was picked for the Intrepid Driver Program to race in the KF2 and KZ2 classes. He won the WSK Master Series in the KF2 class, beating CRG driver Felice Tiene.^[18] Verstappen won the South Garda Winter Cup in the KF2 class, beating Dennis Olsen and Antonio Fuoco.^[19][20]

At the end of 2012, it was announced that Verstappen would leave Intrepid. After a short stint with CRG-built Zanardi karts, Verstappen returned to the factory CRG team.^[21] He competed at the SKUSA SuperNationals in the KZ2 class in a CRG, finishing 21st. In 2013, Verstappen won the European KF and KZ championships. At the age of 15, Verstappen won the 2013 World KZ championship at Varennes-sur-Allier, France, in KZ1, the highest karting category.

Car racing debut

Verstappen's first experience in a racing car was at the Pembrey Circuit on 11 October 2013. He drove 160 laps in a Barazi-Epsilon FR2.0-10 Formula Renault car. The car was provided by Dutch team Manor MP Motorsport.^[22] In December 2013, Verstappen tested a Dallara F311 Formula 3 car run by Motopark Academy. Another Formula Renault test came in December at Circuito de Jerez. Driving for Josef Kaufmann Racing, Verstappen went faster than Formula Renault regulars like Steijn Schothorst and Matt Parry.^[23] At the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia, Verstappen set a faster time than more experienced drivers including Tatiana Calderon and Eddie Cheever III.^[24]

On 16 January 2014, it was announced Verstappen would make his racing debut in the Florida Winter Series.^[25]

Formula Three

Verstappen competing in the FIA European Formula Three Championship in 2014

In 2014, Verstappen drove in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship for Van Amersfoort Racing.^[26] He finished his maiden car racing season third, behind champion Esteban Ocon and runner-up Tom Blomqvist.

Formula One

In August 2014, Verstappen joined the Red Bull Junior Team after testing a Formula Renault 3.5 car. Having also considered an offer from Mercedes to join their driver development programme.^[27] Six days later, he was confirmed as one of Scuderia Toro Rosso's drivers for the 2015 season.^[28] It was confirmed that Carlos Sainz, Jr. would be Verstappen's teammate, following Daniil Kvyat's promotion to Red Bull Racing. Verstappen chose 33 as his race number.

2014 season

By taking part in the first free practice at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen became the youngest driver to take part in a Grand Prix weekend, as part of his preparation for a full-time place with Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2015.^[29]

2015 season

Verstappen driving for Toro Rosso at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix

In January 2015, the FIA launched a new super licence system for Formula One, raising the age limit to 18 from the 2016 season onwards.^[30] Verstappen became the youngest driver to start a World Championship race by joining the sport a year before this licence restriction, in his Grand Prix début as a full-time driver at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix at the age of 17 years, 166 days – breaking Jaime Alguersuari's existing record by almost two years.^[31] In this first race, Verstappen won points-scoring positions until he was forced to retire due to an engine failure.^[32] However, at the subsequent race in Malaysia, Verstappen qualified sixth and finished the race in seventh place, scoring his first Formula One points aged 17 years, 180 days, breaking the record of youngest driver to score World Championship points.^[33] Since then, he has failed to finish with points in China, due to engine failure in the last lap, Bahrain, due to electrical issues, Spain, settling for 11th, and Monaco, as a result of a collision with Romain Grosjean. He achieved his best finish in Hungary by finishing 4th and equalled this result at the United States Grand Prix. At the end of the season, Verstappen received three awards at the FIA Prize Giving ceremony, for Rookie of the Year, Personality of the Year and Action of the Year for his overtake on Felipe Nasr through Blanchimont corner at the Belgian Grand Prix.^[34]

2016 season

Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull announced that Verstappen would be replacing Daniil Kvyat for the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, with Kvyat returning to Toro Rosso. According to Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner, "Max has proven to be an outstanding young talent. His performance at Toro Rosso has been impressive so far and we are pleased to give him the opportunity to drive for Red Bull Racing."^[2]

Racing record

Career summary

Season	Series	Team	Races	Wins	Poles	FLaps	Podiums	Points	Position
2014	Florida Winter Series	N/A	12	4	3	3	7	N/A
	FIA European Formula 3 Championship	Van Amersfoort Racing	33	10	7	7	16	411	3rd
	Macau Grand Prix		1	0	0	1	0	N/A	7th
	Zandvoort Masters	Motopark	1	1	1	0	1	N/A	1st
	Formula One	Scuderia Toro Rosso	Test driver
2015	Formula One	Scuderia Toro Rosso	19	0	0	0	0	49	12th
2016	Formula One	Scuderia Toro Rosso	4	0	0	0	0	13*	10th*
		Red Bull Racing	0	0	0	0	0

* Season still in progress.

Complete FIA European Formula 3 Championship results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	DC	Points
2014	Van Amersfoort Racing	Volkswagen	SIL 1 Ret	SIL 2 5	SIL 3 2	HOC 1 Ret	HOC 2 DNS	HOC 3 1	PAU 1 3	PAU 2 Ret	PAU 3 Ret	HUN 1 Ret	HUN 2 16	HUN 3 4	SPA 1 1	SPA 2 1	SPA 3 1	NOR 1 1	NOR 2 1	NOR 3 1	MSC 1 3	MSC 2 Ret	MSC 3 2	RBR 1 5	RBR 2 4	RBR 3 12	NÜR 1 1	NÜR 2 Ret	NÜR 3 3	IMO 1 Ret	IMO 2 2	IMO 3 1	HOC 1 1	HOC 2 5	HOC 3 6	3rd	411

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicates fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	WDC	Points
2014	Scuderia Toro Rosso	Toro Rosso STR9	Renault Energy F1‑2014 1.6 V6 t	AUS	MAL	BHR	CHN	ESP	MON	CAN	AUT	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN TD	RUS	USA TD	BRA TD	ABU			–	–
2015	Scuderia Toro Rosso	Toro Rosso STR10	Renault Energy F1‑2015 1.6 V6 t	AUS Ret	MAL 7	CHN 17^†	BHR Ret	ESP 11	MON Ret	CAN 15	AUT 8	GBR Ret	HUN 4	BEL 8	ITA 12	SIN 8	JPN 9	RUS 10	USA 4	MEX 9	BRA 9	ABU 16			12th	49
2016	Scuderia Toro Rosso	Toro Rosso STR11	Ferrari 059/4 1.6 V6 t	AUS 10	BHR 6	CHN 8	RUS Ret																		10th*	13*
	Red Bull Racing	Red Bull RB12	TAG Heuer 1.6 V6 t					ESP	MON	CAN	EUR	AUT	GBR	HUN	GER	BEL	ITA	SIN	MAL	JPN	USA	MEX	BRA	ABU

* Season still in progress.
† Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

References

1. Galloway, James (13 November 2015). "Verstappen, Sainz to be retained". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
2. "New line-up for Spain". RedBullRacing.com. 5 May 2016.
3. "Drivers / Max Verstappen". ESPN F1. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
4. Richards, Giles. "Max Verstappen becomes youngest man to drive a Formula One car". The Guardian News and Media Limited.
5. Bonardel, Cécile (18 August 2014). "Verstappen's son in F1 in 2015". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
6. Cornelissen, Marc (17 August 2014). "Geen rijbewijs, wel in de F1" [No driver's licence, yet in F1]. Nieuwsblad.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 December 2014. Max heeft een Belgische moeder, is geboren in Hasselt, woont in Bree en reist met een Belgisch paspoort. Genetisch en cultureel is hij Belgischer dan de gemiddelde Rode Duivel. Maar racen doet hij met een Nederlandse licentie. ‘Ik heb heel mijn leven in België gewoond, maar ik voel meer Nederlander. Door al dat karten trek ik meer met mijn vader op dan met mijn moeder. Ik zit gewoon altijd tussen de Nederlanders. [Max has a Belgian mother, was born in Hasselt, lives in Bree and travels with a Belgian passport. From a genetic and cultural perspective, he's more Belgian than the average Red Devil. Yet he competes with a Dutch racing licence. ‘I have lived in Belgium my entire life, but I consider myself more Dutch. As a result of my karting activities I spend more time with my father than with my mother. I'm always surrounded by Dutch people.’]
7. "Road legal at last! Verstappen passes driving test on 18th birthday". Formula1.com. FOM. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
8. "Limburgs Kart Championship – Mini-Junior 2005". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
9. "Rotax Max Challenge Belgium Minimax 2006". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
10. "Rotax Max Challenge Belgium Minimax 2007". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
11. "Belgian Championship – Cadet 2008". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
12. "Rotax Max Challenge Belgium Minimax 2008". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
13. "Belgian Championship – KF5 2009". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
14. "VAS Championship – Rotax Minimax 2009". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
15. "CIK-FIA World Cup – KF3 2010". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
16. "WSK World Series – KF3 2010". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
17. "WSK Euro Series – KF3 2011". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
18. "WSK Master Series – KF2 2012". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
19. "17° Winter Cup – KF2 2012". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
20. "SKUSA SuperNationals XVI – KZ2 2012". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
21. "Max rijdt rest van seizoen op CRG kart met TM motor". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
22. "Max Verstappen sensationeel in allereerste meters Formule Renault 2.0". RaceXpress.nl. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
23. "Max op haar na snelste bij laatste FR 2.0 test van 2013". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
24. "Max fenomenaal snel bij zijn eerste F3 test op Valencia". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
25. "Max maakt autosportdebuut in Florida Winter Series". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
26. "Max Verstappen new part of the Red Bull Junior Team". FIA. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
27. "Max Verstappen per direct opgenomen in opleiding Red Bull". verstappen.nl (Nu.nl). 12 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
28. Meens, Stefan (18 August 2014). "Max Verstappen will make Formula 1 debut in 2015 with Scuderia Toro Rosso". verstappen.nl (Verstappen Info Page). Retrieved 18 August 2014.
29. Benson, Andrew (29 September 2014). "Max Verstappen: Teenager to drive in practice at Japanese Grand Prix". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
30. "F1 teenager unfazed by baptism of fire in Melbourne fast lane". The Standard (Sing Tao News Corporation). Reuters. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
31. "Max Verstappen to race with Toro Rosso F1 team in 2015". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
32. Barretto, Lawrence (15 March 2015). "Lewis Hamilton beats Nico Rosberg to win". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 29 March 2015.
33. Johnson, Daniel (29 March 2015). "Sebastian Vettel picks up surprise win for Ferrari to blow world title wide open". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved 29 March 2015. Max Verstappen took seventh to become the youngest points scorer in F1 history, at 17 years and 180 days.
34. Galloway, James (5 December 2015). "Lewis Hamilton & Mercedes officially crowned 2015 world champions". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2015.

External links

• Max Verstappen official website
• Max Verstappen on Twitter
• Max Verstappen career summary at DriverDB.com