Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen was born in Hasselt, Belgium, in 1997 and races under the Dutch flag. The son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen and kart racer Sophie Kumpen, he grew up in a deeply competitive racing environment. His karting career was intense and successful, and his rapid move into single-seaters led to a Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015, when he was still only 17. Verstappen moved to Red Bull in 2016 and won on his debut for the team in Spain, immediately confirming his extraordinary potential. Over time, his aggressive style became more controlled without losing its edge. From 2021 onward he became the defining driver of his era, winning championships with Red Bull through a mix of race craft, relentless pace and remarkable consistency. By 2026, Verstappen stands as the benchmark for modern Formula 1 performance. His combination of natural feel, tyre management, defensive strength and mental toughness has made him one of the sport’s dominant champions. He can be a polarising figure, but his impact is undeniable: an entire generation of F1 has been shaped around trying to beat him.