

And since that headline-grabbing debut, he has continued to make an indelible impression on the sport, courting criticism and plaudits in equal measure. Already the youngest competitor in F1 history, having made his breakthrough in 2015 aged just 17, his debut race for Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix saw him become the youngest driver ever to win a race, achieve a podium finish or even lead a lap.Īs sports journalist James Gray deftly shows, as son of F1 legend Jos and elite-level kart driver Sophie Kumpen, Max was destined to be a racing driver. Having Verstappen on board for the long term gives Red Bull a strong hand in its ongoing negotiations with the VW Group regarding power unit supply, and indeed in discussions with any other manufacturer willing to underwrite and badge Red Bull’s own engine.The first English-language biography of Formula 1’s hottest new talent, Dutchman Max Verstappen.įew drivers have ever shaken up Formula 1 in quite the same way as Verstappen. The newly-formed Red Bull Powertrains division is already working on a project for the new rules. The extended contract secures Verstappen’s services into the first three years of the new power unit regulations, which come into play in 2026. “I love this team and last year was simply incredible, our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that, so now it’s about keeping the number one on the car long-term.”

“I really enjoy being part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, so choosing to stay to the 2028 season was an easy decision,” Verstappen said of the new deal. Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images Max Verstappen took his first F1 world title last year in Abu Dhabi Combined with the FIA cost cap restricting expenditure, those deals have given the team the confidence to spend whatever it takes to keep its star driver.
