Max Verstappen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Max Verstappen
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Verstappen at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix
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Max Emilian Verstappen
30 September 1997 Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium
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| Partner(s) | Kelly Piquet (2020–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Dutch |
| Car number | 33 1 (2022–present) |
| Entries | 214 (214 starts) |
| Championships | 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) |
| Wins | 64 |
| Podiums | 115 |
| Career points | 3110.5 |
| Pole positions | 42 |
| Fastest laps | 33 |
| First entry | 2015 Australian Grand Prix |
| First win | 2016 Spanish Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2025 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2019 Monaco Grand Prix |
| 2024 position | 1st (437 pts) |
| Previous series | |
| 2014 | FIA F3 European |
| Championship titles | |
| 2014 | Masters of F3 |
| Signature | |
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Max Emilian Verstappen, born on September 30, 1997, is a famous racing driver from the Netherlands. He competes in Formula One for the Red Bull Racing team. Max is a four-time World Champion, winning consecutively from 2021 to 2024. He has won many Grand Prix races during his career.
Max grew up in a family of racers. His father, Jos Verstappen, was also a Formula One driver. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was a talented kart racer. Max started racing karts at a very young age. He quickly became a champion in karting, winning many races and titles.
After his karting success, Max moved into junior racing categories. He joined the FIA European Formula 3 series. In his first season in 2014, he won several races and finished third overall. At just 17 years old, Max joined Toro Rosso in 2015. This made him the youngest driver ever to start a Formula One race. He quickly showed his skill by scoring points in his second race. In 2016, he moved to the main Red Bull team. At 18, he won his first Formula One race, becoming the youngest Grand Prix winner in history.
Max continued to win races in 2017 and 2018. He finished third in the championship in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, Max won his first World Championship title in a thrilling final race. He became the first Dutch driver to achieve this. He then won two more championships in 2022 and 2023, breaking many records along the way. In 2024, he secured his fourth title, showing incredible skill in challenging races. Max is also known for his sim racing skills, winning several online events. He was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people globally by Time magazine in 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Max Emilian Verstappen was born in Hasselt, Belgium, on September 30, 1997. His family has a strong connection to motor sports. His father, Jos Verstappen, was a Formula One driver from the Netherlands. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was a successful kart racer from Belgium. Max also has a younger sister, Victoria, and three younger half-siblings.
Max attended school in Maaseik, Belgium. He later switched to private tutoring to focus on his racing career. His family's passion for racing greatly influenced his path.
Junior Racing Career
Karting Success (2005–2013)
Max started karting at age four and began competing at seven. He quickly became a dominant force in national championships. In 2005 and 2006, he won the VAS Championship in Belgium. He also won the Dutch Championship in 2007. By 2008, he was winning multiple championships in Belgium and the Benelux region.
In 2010, Max moved to international karting. He raced for the factory CRG team. He achieved several wins, including the WSK Euro Series and WSK World Series. In 2011, he won the WSK Euro Series again. In 2012, he continued his success, winning the WSK Master Series and the South Garda Winter Cup.
His 2013 season was truly remarkable. At just 15, Max won three CIK-FIA championships in one year. This included two European Championships and the KZ World Championship. He became the youngest driver ever to win the gearbox World Championship. This amazing year showed everyone his incredible talent.
Formula Three (2014)
In 2014, Max made his debut in single-seater racing. He first competed in the non-championship Florida Winter Series, winning two races. Then, he joined the 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing.
At 16, Max won 10 races in his rookie season. This included a record six wins in a row. He became the youngest race winner and pole-sitter in Formula Three history. He finished third in the championship, showing he was ready for bigger challenges. In August 2014, Max joined the Red Bull Junior Team.
Formula One Career
Max's Formula One journey began in 2014. He participated in practice sessions for Toro Rosso. At 17 years and three days old, he was the youngest person to take part in a Formula One race weekend.
Toro Rosso (2015–2016)
In 2015, Max became a full-time driver for Toro Rosso. He was the youngest driver ever to start a World Championship race. In his second race in Malaysia, he finished seventh, becoming the youngest driver to score Formula One points.
He continued to impress, often finishing in the points. At the end of 2015, he received three awards: "Rookie of the Year", "Personality of the Year", and "Action of the Year".
Max started the 2016 season with Toro Rosso. He continued to show strong performances, including a sixth-place finish in Bahrain.
Red Bull Racing (2016–present)
2016: Youngest Grand Prix Winner
In May 2016, Max was promoted to Red Bull Racing. In his very first race with the team, the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, he won! This made him the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix, at 18 years and 228 days old. He achieved six top-five finishes and four podiums in his first eight races with Red Bull.
At the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, Max showed incredible skill in the rain. He started fourth and, despite a spin and a late tire change, he made many overtakes to finish third. His performance was widely praised.
2017–2018: Rising Star
The 2017 season had some tough moments for Max with several mechanical issues and collisions. However, he found great success later in the year. He won his second Formula One race at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, just after his 20th birthday. He also won the 2017 Mexican Grand Prix.
In 2018, Max faced some challenges early in the season. Despite this, he secured his first podium of the year in Spain. He then won the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull's home race. He also claimed his fifth career win in Mexico. Max finished the season in fourth place with two wins and eleven podiums.
2019–2020: Team Leader
In 2019, Red Bull switched to Honda engines. Max quickly adapted, securing a podium in the first race in Australia. He won the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix and the wet 2019 German Grand Prix. In Hungary, he achieved his first-ever pole position. He ended the season with three wins and nine podiums, finishing third in the championship.
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The 2020 season saw Max continue to perform strongly. He won the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. He also secured second place at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix and podiums in Belgium and Russia. He finished third in the championship with two wins and eleven podiums.
2021: First World Championship Title
The 2021 season was a fierce battle between Max and Lewis Hamilton. Max started strong, taking pole position at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix. He won the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix. He also achieved his first career grand slam at the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix, leading every lap, setting the fastest lap, and winning from pole.
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The championship came down to the very last race, the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Max overtook Hamilton on the final lap to win the race and his first World Drivers' Championship. This made him the first Dutch World Champion.
2022: Second Dominant Title
In March 2022, Max signed a long-term contract with Red Bull. As the reigning champion, he chose to race with the number 1. After some early retirements, Max showed incredible form. He won five races in a row, including a grand slam at the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
He secured his second World Drivers' Championship at the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix with four races still to go. Max continued his winning streak, finishing the season with 15 victories. This broke the record for most wins in a single season. He also set a new record for most points in a season with 454.
2023: Record-Breaking Third Title
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Max continued his incredible performance in 2023. He started the season with a win in Bahrain. He then began a record-breaking winning streak, winning ten races in a row. This broke Sebastian Vettel's previous record of nine consecutive wins.
He secured his third World Drivers' Championship at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix sprint race. Max finished the season with an astonishing 19 wins, breaking his own record from 2022. He also scored 575 points, more than double that of the second-placed driver.
2024: Fourth Title Amidst Challenges
The 2024 season started with Max winning his fifth career grand slam in Bahrain. He continued with wins in Saudi Arabia and Japan. He also won the sprint and main race in China. Max matched Ayrton Senna's record of eight consecutive pole positions at the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Despite some challenges with his car and tough competition, Max showed his skill. A remarkable drive from 17th on the grid to win the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix was widely praised. He secured his fourth World Championship title at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix with two races remaining. Max won eight Grands Prix in 2024, proving his status as one of Formula One's all-time greats.
2025: Challenging Season
The 2025 season has been a tough one for Red Bull, with McLaren showing strong performance. Max finished second at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. He faced challenges with tire wear and car performance in China. However, he delivered a surprise pole position and victory at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, a performance that earned him great praise.
Max won the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with an amazing first-lap overtake. He faced a penalty for an incident in Spain. At the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, he retired after being hit on the first lap. Despite these difficulties, he continues to fight for strong results, including a sprint win in Belgium and a second-place finish at his home race, the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix. His pole lap in Italy was the fastest in Formula One history.
Driver Profile
Qualifying Speed and Consistency
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Many experts believe Max Verstappen is one of the fastest drivers in Formula One. Former World Champion Nico Rosberg said Max's raw speed helped him get pole position even when his car wasn't the fastest. Another former champion, Jenson Button, called him "the fastest driver that has ever driven an F1 car."
Helmut Marko, a key figure at Red Bull, also stated that Max is the fastest driver the team has ever had. His ability to find speed on one lap is truly special.
Dominance Over Teammates
Max is known for being a very strong team leader. Former driver Eddie Irvine noted that Max has had many different teammates, and none have come close to matching his performance. Journalist Jolyon Palmer suggested that Max's first World Championship could start a "new era of dominance" because of his incredible speed and few mistakes.
Experts explain that Max drives mostly by instinct, using years of training. This makes it very hard for other drivers to understand and match his speed, even with all the data available. Helmut Marko also pointed out that Max's performance improved significantly compared to his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
Natural Talent
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After his first Formula One win, three-time World Champion Niki Lauda called Max the "talent of the century." Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Max is the best driver the team has ever had, praising his raw ability and commitment.
Two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso said Max is "one step ahead" of everyone else in Formula One. He noted Max's incredible skill, even when his car wasn't the fastest. Many observers now consider Max to be the best driver in the world.
Racecraft
Max is known for his aggressive and determined racing style. Early in his career, some drivers and officials gave him advice on his driving. However, he quickly learned and improved. After winning his first title, journalist David Tremayne noted that Max seemed more relaxed and even better at racing.
His driving style has sometimes led to penalties, but many compare his fierce determination to legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. His ability to make bold moves and win races, even from difficult starting positions, is a hallmark of his racecraft.
Fan Support
Max has a huge fanbase around the world, especially in the Netherlands. His fans, often called the Orange Army because of the Dutch national color, create an amazing atmosphere at races. Many European races have special "Verstappen grandstands" for thousands of Dutch fans.
In 2021, a worldwide survey voted Max the most popular Formula One driver. The fan-made song "Super Max!" became very popular after his 2021 championship win. Another song, "33 Max Verstappen," also went viral.
Other Racing Activities
Sportscar Racing
Max has also explored other types of racing. In 2022, he tested a Super GT car, the Honda NSX-GT. In 2024, he drove a Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Portimão circuit. The team principal said Max was driving "on a different level" compared to other drivers.
In May 2025, he tested the Ferrari 296 GT3 again, reportedly setting a lap record. He later received a special license allowing him to compete in top-level endurance racing. In November 2024, he tested an Acura ARX-06 prototype car. Max has expressed interest in competing in famous endurance races like the 24 Hours of Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Sim Racing
Max enjoys sim racing in his free time. He believes it helps him stay sharp for real-life racing. Since 2015, he has been a member of Team Redline, a professional sim racing team.
He has competed in many major online events on iRacing. In 2019, he won the Spa 24 Special Event with Lando Norris. He also won the Petit Le Mans Special Event in 2020. In January 2024, Max won the GTD class at the Daytona 24 Special Event. He also won the Nürburgring 24 Special Event in May 2024, on the same weekend he won the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. He completed a perfect season of 24-hour special events by winning his second Spa 24 Special Event in July 2024.
Verstappen.com Racing
In 2022, Max founded his own racing team, Verstappen.com Racing. This team supports his father, Jos, in rallying. It also supports Thierry Vermeulen in series like the ADAC GT Masters and Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. In 2025, the team expanded to compete in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. They achieved a Gold Cup victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Spa.
Personal Life
Max holds both Dutch and Belgian citizenship. He chose to compete under the Dutch flag, like his father. He has stated that he "feels more Dutch" due to spending more time with his father and his upbringing near the Dutch border. He is fluent in Dutch, English, and German.
Max obtained his road driving license on his 18th birthday. The day after, in October 2015, he moved to Monaco, where he has lived ever since. He owns a Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft and a yacht named Unleash the Lion. Max is a fan of football clubs FC Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven. In September 2022, he was honored as an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau for his achievements in racing.
Max has been dating Brazilian-Dutch model Kelly Piquet since October 2020. They welcomed their first daughter in April 2025.
Awards and Honours
Formula One
- Formula One World Drivers' Championship: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- DHL Fastest Lap Award: 2022, 2023
- FIA Action of the Year: 2015, 2016, 2019
- FIA Rookie of the Year: 2015
- FIA Personality of the Year: 2015, 2016, 2017
- Lorenzo Bandini Trophy: 2016
Other Awards
- Time 100: 2024
- Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2022
- Dutch Sportsman of the Year: 2016, 2021, 2022
- Autosport International Racing Driver Award: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Best Driver ESPY Award: 2023, 2024, 2025
- FIA Action of the Year: 2014
- Autosport Awards Rookie of the Year: 2015
- Autosport Awards Moment of the Year: 2024
Orders and Special Awards
Netherlands
Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2022)
Karting Record
Karting Career Summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | VAS Championship – Mini Junior | 1st | |
| Dutch N.A.B. Championship – Mini Junior | 16th | ||
| Limburgs Kart Championship – Mini Junior | 2nd | ||
| 2006 | VAS Championship – Mini Junior | 1st | |
| 2007 | Chrono Dutch Rotax Max Challenge – Mini Max | 35th | |
| Dutch Championship – Rotax Mini Max | 1st | ||
| Rotax Max Challenge Belgium – Mini Max | Jos Verstappen | 1st | |
| 2008 | VAS Championship – Mini | NC | |
| Belgian Championship – Cadet | Jos Verstappen | 1st | |
| Rotax Max Challenge Belgium – Mini Max | 1st | ||
| BNL Karting Series – Mini Max | Verstappen Racing | 1st | |
| 2009 | Rotax Max Challenge Belgium – Mini Max | 1st | |
| Belgian Championship – KF5 | Pex Racing Team | 1st | |
| BNL Karting Series – Mini Max | 1st | ||
| 2010 | South Garda Winter Cup – KF3 | CRG | 2nd |
| WSK Euro Series – KF3 | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship Qualification Region Nord – KF3 | 2nd | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship – KF3 | 5th | ||
| CIK-FIA World Cup – KF3 | 2nd | ||
| Bridgestone Cup European Final – KF3 | 1st | ||
| WSK World Series – KF3 | 1st | ||
| WSK Nations Cup – KF3 | 1st | ||
| 2011 | South Garda Winter Cup – KF3 | CRG | 2nd |
| WSK Master Series – KF3 | 19th | ||
| North European Trophy – KF3 | DNF | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship – KF3 | 14th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – KF3 | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA World Cup – KF3 | DNF | ||
| 2012 | South Garda Winter Cup – KF2 | Intrepid Driver Program | 1st |
| BNL Karting Series – KZ2 | 10th | ||
| WSK Master Series – KF2 | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship – KF2 | 10th | ||
| WSK Euro Series – KF2 | 6th | ||
| German Karting Championship – KZ2 | NC | ||
| CIK-FIA World Cup – KZ2 | CRG | DNF | |
| CIK-FIA World Cup – KF2 | 2nd | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship – KF1 | 8th | ||
| SKUSA SuperNationals – KZ2 | PSL Karting | 21st | |
| 2013 | South Garda Winter Cup – KF2 | CRG | 1st |
| Rotax Max Euro Challenge – Senior | 32nd | ||
| WSK Euro Series – KZ1 | 1st | ||
| WSK Master Series – KZ2 | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship – KF | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship – KZ | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship – KF | 3rd | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship – KZ | 1st | ||
| Sources: | |||
Racing Record
Racing Career Summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Florida Winter Series | N/A | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | N/A | N/A |
| FIA Formula 3 European 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 | 204 | 5th |
| Red Bull Racing | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | ||||
| 2017 | Formula One | Red Bull Racing | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 168 | 6th |
| 2018 | Formula One | Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | 21 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 249 | 4th |
| 2019 | Formula One | Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | 21 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 278 | 3rd |
| 2020 | Formula One | Aston Martin Red Bull Racing | 17 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 214 | 3rd |
| 2021 | Formula One | Red Bull Racing Honda | 22 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 395.5 | 1st |
| 2022 | Formula One | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 22 | 15 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 454 | 1st |
| 2023 | Formula One | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 22 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 575 | 1st |
| 2024 | Formula One | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 24 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 136 | 1st |
| 2025 | Formula One | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 87* | 3rd* |
| Source: | |||||||||
* Season still in progress.
Formula One Records
Max Verstappen holds many impressive Formula One records:
| Record | Achieved | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | |||
| Youngest driver to start a race | 17 years, 166 days | 2015 Australian Grand Prix | |
| Youngest driver to score points | 17 years, 180 days | 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix | |
| Youngest driver to score a podium finish | 18 years, 228 days | 2016 Spanish Grand Prix | |
| Youngest driver to win a race | 18 years, 228 days | 2016 Spanish Grand Prix | |
| Youngest driver to score a grand slam | 23 years, 277 days | 2021 Austrian Grand Prix | |
| Wins | |||
| Most wins in a season | 19 | 2023 | |
| Most wins in one calendar month | 4 | 2023 Austrian Grand Prix – 2023 Belgian Grand Prix | |
| Most consecutive wins | 10 | 2023 Miami Grand Prix – 2023 Italian Grand Prix | |
| Highest percentage of wins in a season | 86.36% | 2023 | |
| Most wins before first pole position | 7 | 2019 German Grand Prix | |
| Most wins from pole position in a season | 12 | 2023 | |
| Most wins not starting from pole position in a season | 9 | 2022 | |
| Most consecutive wins from pole position | 18 | 2022 Dutch Grand Prix – 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | |
| Wins from most different grid slots | 10 | 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix | |
| Wins from most different grid slots in a season | 7 | 2022 | |
| Most sprint wins | 12 | 2025 Belgian Grand Prix sprint | |
| Most sprint wins in a season | 4 | 2023, 2024 | |
| Pole positions | |||
| Most consecutive pole positions | 8 | 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | |
| Most consecutive pole positions from first race of season | 7 | 2024 | |
| Fastest qualifying lap | 264.681 km/h | 2025 Italian Grand Prix | |
| Podium finishes | |||
| Most podium finishes in a season | 21 | 2023 | |
| Most consecutive top two finishes | 15 | 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – 2023 Italian Grand Prix | |
| Points | |||
| Most points in a season | 575 | 2023 | |
| Highest percentage of points in a season | 92.74% | 2023 | |
| Most consecutive points scored | 1055 | 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | |
| Highest average points per race started | 14.54 | 2019 Monaco Grand Prix | |
| Highest average points per race started in a season | 26.14 | 2023 | |
| Largest points deficit overturned to become World Champion | 46 | 2022 | |
| Most points between first and second in the World Championship | 290 | 2023 | |
| Highest percentage points difference between first and second in the World Championship | 50.43% | 2023 | |
| Laps Led | |||
| Most laps led in a season | 1003 | 2023 | |
| Highest percentage of laps led in a season | 75.70% | 2023 | |
| Most races led in a season | 20 | 2023 | |
| Others | |||
| Highest average speed by a winning driver | 250.706 km/h | 2025 Italian Grand Prix | |
| Lowest average speed by a winning driver | 53.583 km/h | 2022 Japanese Grand Prix | |
| Most pit stops by a winning driver in a race | 6 | 2023 Dutch Grand Prix | |
| Most races left in a season when becoming World Champion | 6 | 2023 | |
| Most hat-tricks in a season | 6 | 2023 | |
| Most consecutive races as championship leader | 63 | 2022 Spanish Grand Prix – 2025 Australian Grand Prix | |
| Most consecutive days as championship leader | 1029 | 2022 Spanish Grand Prix – 2025 Australian Grand Prix | |
- Footnotes
See also
In Spanish: Max Verstappen para niños
