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Max Verstappen

Verstappen in 2014
Born	Max Emilian Verstappen (1997-09-30) 30 September 1997 (age 27) Hasselt, Belgium
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Dutch
Car number	33
Entries	( starts)
Championships	0
First entry	2015 Australian Grand Prix
Last entry	2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Max Emilian Verstappen (born 30 September 1997) is a racing driver, currently competing in Formula One with Scuderia Toro Rosso. He races under the Dutch flag, although he's a Belgian national born in Hasselt (Belgium). Verstappen is the youngest World Championship Grand Prix driver – having made his début, aged 17 years, 166 days, at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix.

Family

Verstappen was born into a family of racing drivers. His father, Jos Verstappen, is a former Formula One driver, while his mother Sophie Kumpen was a successful kart driver. She won two Belgian championships and in 1995 the prestigious Trofeo Margutti in Lonato, Italy, competing against drivers such as Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella. His grandfather, Robert Kumpen, did some endurance karting on an international level. Robert's brother Paul Kumpen, the godfather of Sophie, is a former rallycross and GT endurance driver and the founder of the Belgian team PK Racing. Paul's son Anthony (Sophie's cousin) is known as the most successful driver at Circuit Zolder. He won the Spa 24 Hours with a Corvette, participated in the Le Mans 24 Hours and became the champion in the 2014 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season. In February 2015 he made his American NASCAR debut in the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, finishing 14th in New Smyrna. Through his parents, Verstappen holds both Belgian and Dutch citizenship. Although he was born in Belgium, lives in Belgium and travels with a Belgian passport, he decided to compete with a Dutch racing licence, because he spent most of his karting time surrounded by Dutch people, while growing up in Maaseik, a Belgian town at the Dutch border.

Career history

Karting

Verstappen began karting at age 4½. He competed in the Mini Junior championship of his home province of Limburg. In 2006, Verstappen graduated to the Rotax Max Minimax class and won the Belgian championship. In 2007, Verstappen won the Dutch Minimax championship. Racing in a CRG entered by his father, Verstappen won the Dutch and Belgian Minimax championship as well as the Belgian Cadet championship.

For 2009, Verstappen joined Team Pex Racing, a CRG customer team. Verstappen won the Flemish Minimax championship and the Belgian KF5 championship. 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. Verstappen beat Albon at the WSK Euro Series. He also won the WSK World Series, beating Robert Vişoiu.

In 2011, Verstappen won the WSK Euro Series in a Parilla-powered CRG. For 2012, Verstappen was picked up by 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. Verstappen won the South Garda Winter Cup in the KF2 class, beating Dennis Olsen and Antonio Fuoco.

At the end of 2012, it was announced Verstappen would leave Intrepid. After a short stint with CRG-built Zanardi karts, Verstappen returned to the factory CRG team. 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 drove his first meters in a racing car at the Pembrey Circuit on October 11, 2013. He drove 160 laps in a Barazi-Epsilon FR2.0-10 Formula Renault car on the first day. The car was provided by Dutch team Manor MP Motorsport. 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. At the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia, Verstappen set a faster time than more experienced drivers including Tatiana Calderon and Eddie Cheever III.

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

Formula Three

In 2014, Verstappen drove in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship for Van Amersfoort Racing. He finished his maiden season in car racing as third behind champion Esteban Ocon and runner-up Tom Blomqvist. Verstappen won ten races, the most of any driver.

Formula One

In August 2014, Verstappen joined the Red Bull Junior Team, having also fielded an offer from Mercedes to join their driver development programme. Six days later, he was confirmed as one of Scuderia Toro Rosso's drivers for the 2015 season. It was confirmed that Carlos Sainz Jr. will be Verstappen's teammate, following Daniil Kvyat's promotion to Red Bull Racing. Verstappen chose 33 as his race number.

2015 season

In his Grand Prix début at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix – and at the age of 17 years, 166 days – Verstappen became the youngest driver to start a World Championship race, breaking Jaime Alguersuari's existing record by almost two years. Verstappen already became the youngest driver to participate at a Grand Prix weekend during the first free practice at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Verstappen had been running inside the points-scoring placings prior to retiring from the race, with engine failure. In Malaysia, Verstappen qualified sixth, and finished the race in seventh place to become the youngest driver to score World Championship points, aged 17 years, 180 days.

Racing record

Career summary

* Season in progress.

Complete FIA European Formula 3 Championship results

(key)

Complete Formula One results

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

* Season in progress.

References

1. ^ "Max Verstappen to race with Toro Rosso F1 team in 2015". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
2. "Drivers / Max Verstappen". ESPN F1. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
3. 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.
4. "Limburgs Kart Championship – Mini-Junior 2005". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
5. "Rotax Max Challenge Belgium Minimax 2006". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
6. "Rotax Max Challenge Belgium Minimax 2007". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
7. "Belgian Championship – Cadet 2008". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
8. "Rotax Max Challenge Belgium Minimax 2008". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
9. "Belgian Championship – KF5 2009". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
10. "VAS Championship – Rotax Minimax 2009". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
11. "CIK-FIA World Cup – KF3 2010". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
12. "WSK World Series – KF3 2010". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
13. "WSK Euro Series – KF3 2011". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
14. "WSK Master Series – KF2 2012". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
15. "17° Winter Cup – KF2 2012". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
16. "SKUSA SuperNationals XVI – KZ2 2012". DriverDB.com. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
17. "Max rijdt rest van seizoen op CRG kart met TM motor". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
18. "Max Verstappen sensationeel in allereerste meters Formule Renault 2.0". RaceXpress.nl. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
19. "Max op haar na snelste bij laatste FR 2.0 test van 2013". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
20. "Max fenomenaal snel bij zijn eerste F3 test op Valencia". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
21. "Max maakt autosportdebuut in Florida Winter Series". Verstappen Info Page. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
22. "Max Verstappen new part of the Red Bull Junior Team". FIA. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
23. "Max Verstappen per direct opgenomen in opleiding Red Bull". verstappen.nl. Nu.nl. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
24. 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.
25. Benson, Andrew (29 September 2014). "Max Verstappen: Teenager to drive in practice at Japanese Grand Prix". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
26. Barretto, Lawrence (15 March 2015). "Lewis Hamilton beats Nico Rosberg to win". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
27. 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.

External links

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

v t e Scuderia Toro Rosso
Drivers Notable drivers Jaime Alguersuari Sébastien Bourdais Sébastien Buemi Brendon Hartley Vitantonio Liuzzi Carlos Sainz Jr. Scott Speed Jean-Éric Vergne Drivers who were promoted to Red Bull Racing Alexander Albon Pierre Gasly Daniil Kvyat Daniel Ricciardo Max Verstappen Sebastian Vettel Formula One race winners Pierre Gasly Carlos Sainz Jr. Daniel Ricciardo Max Verstappen Sebastian Vettel
Personnel Founder Dietrich Mateschitz Advisor to Red Bull GmbH Helmut Marko Notable personnel Riccardo Adami Giorgio Ascanelli Gerhard Berger John Booth Ben Butler [pl] Jonathan Eddolls Jody Egginton Gianfranco Fantuzzi [pl] Luca Furbatto Alex Hitzinger James Key Laurent Mekies Steve Nielsen Nicolò Petrucci Xevi Pujolar Massimo Rivola Rob Taylor Franz Tost Gabriele Tredozi Ben Waterhouse Graham Watson
Senior team Red Bull Racing
Formula One cars STR1 STR2 STR2B STR3 STR4 STR5 STR6 STR7 STR8 STR9 STR10 STR11 STR12 STR13 STR14
Related Red Bull Junior Team Red Bull GmbH Honda Racing F1 Renault Sport F1 Scuderia Ferrari Scuderia AlphaTauri RB Formula One Team
Commons:Scuderia Toro Rosso

Template:Persondata

• Misplaced Pages articles needing copy edit from January 2014
• 1997 births
• Living people
• People from Hasselt
• Dutch racing drivers
• Dutch Formula One drivers
• Karting World Championship drivers
• FIA European Formula 3 Championship drivers
• Toro Rosso Formula One drivers