Who Is Max Verstappen? He is a Dutch racing driver who competes in Formula One for Red Bull Racing. He was born on September 30, 1997, and his parents were both racing drivers.
Verstappen began racing in karting and then moved up to single-seater categories, setting several records along the way. In 2015, he became the youngest driver to compete in Formula One at the age of 17 years and 166 days.
After starting his Formula One career with Scuderia Toro Rosso, Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing in 2016 and won his debut race at the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest-ever Formula One Grand Prix winner and the first Dutch driver to win.
In 2021, Verstappen became the first Dutch driver to win the Formula One World Championship, and he won his second consecutive championship in 2022. As of the 2023 Australian Grand Prix, he has achieved 37 victories and 22 pole positions.
Verstappen has signed a contract extension with Red Bull Racing that will keep him with the team until at least the end of the 2028 season. Let’s read more about his full Wikipedia biodata, biography and net worth below.
Max Verstappen Biography
Max Verstappen is a famous race car driver born in Belgium on September 30, 1997. His parents are Jos Verstappen and Sophie Kumpen, and he has a younger sister named Victoria. Max’s parents separated when he was young, and he lived with his dad while his sister lived with their mom.
Max’s family is very involved in motorsports, and his dad used to be a Formula One driver. Max’s mom also competed in go-karting. Let’s known Why Max compete with a Dutch racing license below.
Age | Date of Birth
Max Verstappen is a famous race car driver who was born on September 30, 1997, which makes him 26 years old as of 2023.
Ethnicity | Nationality | Zodiac Sign
Max Verstappen is a race car driver with Belgian-Dutch ethnicity, ((latestinbollywood.com)) which means he has both Belgian and Dutch backgrounds. ((celebanswers.com)) Max’s dad is Dutch, and his mom is Belgian.
Max races under the Dutch flag and has a Dutch racing license, even though he has Belgian nationality too. His zodiac sign is Libra. ((helloastrology.com))
Net Worth
Max Verstappen’s estimated net worth as of March 2023 is around $200 million. ((formulapedia.com)) However, different sources provide varying estimates, with some estimating his net worth to be between $48 million to $70 million. ((celebritynetworth.com)) Max earns a yearly salary of $55 million, and he has many sponsorships that also pay him well. ((formulapedia.com))
Wife | Girlfriend | Children
Max Verstappen is currently dating Kelly Piquet, a Brazilian model. ((nzherald.co.nz)) Kelly has a daughter named Penelope, who was born in July 2019 with F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. ((people.com)) However, it is not known whether Max Verstappen has any children of his own.
Why Does Max Compete with A Dutch Racing License?
Even though Max was born in Belgium, he competes with a Dutch racing license because he feels more Dutch. Max spent more time with his dad than his mom because of his go-karting activities and grew up in a Belgian town near the Dutch border. Max said he only lived in Belgium to sleep and spent his days in the Netherlands with his Dutch friends.
What Else Does Max Enjoy Besides Racing?
In his free time, Max enjoys sim racing, which is like video game racing. He says it helps him with his real-life racing skills. Max is also a member of a multinational sim racing team called Team Redline.
Max is a supporter of two soccer teams, FC Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven. He also speaks three languages: Dutch, English, and German, which he learned while karting with famous race car driver Michael Schumacher.
What Are Some of Max’s Accomplishments?
Max has achieved many things in his racing career. He competed in Formula One for over a season before getting his road driving license on his 18th birthday. Max moved to Monaco right after getting his license and has lived there ever since.
In November 2020, Max bought a private plane. In September 2022, he was made an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau in recognition of his racing achievements. Max has been dating Kelly Piquet publicly since January 2021.
Career
Max Verstappen’s racing career began in karting, where he quickly gained success. He won several championships in the junior categories and set a number of records along the way. He then moved up to single-seater categories, including KF3, WSK World Series, and KZ2.
Florida Winter Series
In 2014, Max Verstappen participated in the Florida Winter Series, a six-race championship held in the United States. The championship was intended to give young drivers an opportunity to gain experience in single-seater racing during the off-season. Verstappen dominated the series, winning five of the six races and finishing second in the other.
Formula Three
In 2014, Verstappen made his debut in Formula Three with Van Amersfoort Racing. He had an impressive debut season, winning ten races and finishing third in the championship. His success in Formula Three caught the attention of Formula One teams, and he was signed by Scuderia Toro Rosso for the 2015 season.
Verstappen’s success in the junior categories and in Formula Three demonstrated his talent and potential as a driver. He went on to have a successful career in Formula One, becoming a two-time world champion with Red Bull Racing.
Scuderia Toro Rosso (2014-2016)
Max Verstappen made his Formula One debut with Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2015. At 17 years old, he became the youngest driver ever to compete in a Grand Prix. In his rookie season, Verstappen impressed with his speed and consistency, scoring points in four races and finishing twelfth in the championship.
Red Bull (2016-present)
After just four races in the 2016 season, Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing, replacing Daniil Kvyat.
In his first race with the team, the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen won the race, becoming the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix.
He went on to finish the season fourth in the championship, with one more win and seven podium finishes.
2017 Season
In 2017, Verstappen had a mixed season, with a number of retirements and technical issues. Despite this, he managed to win two races, at Malaysia and Mexico, and finished sixth in the championship.
2018 Season
In 2018, Verstappen continued to impress, with a string of strong performances and consistent podium finishes. He won two races, in Austria and Mexico, and finished fourth in the championship.
2019 Season
In 2019, Verstappen won three races and finished third in the championship, behind the dominant Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
2020 Season
In the 2020 season, Verstappen finished third in the championship once again, with two wins and eleven podium finishes.
2021 Season: World Champion
In 2021, Verstappen had a breakthrough season, challenging Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton for the championship. After a season-long battle, Verstappen won his first Formula One World Championship at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He won a total of ten races and finished on the podium in 16 out of 22 races.
2022: Dominant Second Title
Verstappen continued his dominant form into the 2022 season, winning seven of the first eight races and establishing a commanding lead in the championship.
He went on to win his second consecutive championship with three races to spare, finishing the season with 12 wins and 18 podium finishes. His dominant performances solidified his position as one of the greatest drivers of his generation.
Reception
Max Verstappen’s arrival in Formula One was met with both excitement and skepticism. Some were impressed by his raw speed and natural talent, while others questioned whether he was too young and inexperienced for the sport. However, Verstappen quickly proved his critics wrong with his impressive performances on track.
Qualifying Speed
One of Verstappen’s greatest strengths is his qualifying speed. He has consistently shown the ability to extract the maximum performance from his car in qualifying, often starting races from the front row of the grid. This ability to start from a strong position has given him a significant advantage in races.
Dominance Over Teammates
Verstappen has established himself as one of the top drivers in Formula One, consistently outperforming his teammates. He has had the upper hand over both Carlos Sainz Jr. and Pierre Gasly at Scuderia Toro Rosso, as well as Daniel Ricciardo and Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing.
Natural Talent
Verstappen’s natural talent and ability to drive on the edge has earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting drivers in Formula One. He has an innate ability to read the track and make split-second decisions, which allows him to extract the maximum performance from his car.
Race Craft
Verstappen’s race craft is another area where he excels. He is a fearless driver who is not afraid to take risks and make bold overtaking maneuvers. He is also a master at defending his position, often making it difficult for his rivals to pass him.
Fan Support
Verstappen has a large and passionate fan base, particularly in his home country of the Netherlands. His success in Formula One has helped to grow the sport’s popularity in the Netherlands, and his fans can often be heard cheering him on at races around the world.
