Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen started his Formula 1 career as a teenager. The fast Dutchman is convinced that he has hardly changed as a person since then.
Max Verstappen made headlines even before his promotion to Formula 1, the fast son of former GP driver Jos Verstappen was only 17 years old when he contested his first Grand Prix for the Toro Rosso Team (now AlphaTauri). One year and two months after his GP career, he celebrated his first victory in the premier class – in his first outing as a Red Bull Racing driver in Barcelona.
Since this triumph, Verstappen has achieved nine more GP victories, he has stood on the podium a total of 42 times in his six Formula 1 years to date, and has attracted attention several times with powerful maneuvers. In addition to the slopes, the young Red Bull Racing star prefers anonymity, as he clarified in an interview with the Dutch radio icon Edwin Evers for his sponsor G-Star RAW.
When asked whether it is an advantage or a disadvantage to be famous, the GP driver explains: “That depends. If you want to have your peace and quiet and be to yourself, then of course it is a disadvantage. It’s different if you want to reserve a table at the last minute. ”
He is mainly recognized in the Netherlands and on racing weekends, says Verstappen. “That doesn’t happen outside of the World Cup. When I was on vacation in the USA, for example, it was mostly Dutch tourists who recognized me. There were also Americans who were enthusiastic about Formula 1, but there weren’t many. “
Verstappen is certain that his fame has hardly changed him. “I’ve hardly changed and I’m still 99 percent who I was at the beginning of my career. I’m just older and more experienced, but I really think I’m still the same, ”he says. “I’m pretty easy going and relaxed.”
World Championship stand after 17 races
driver
1. Hamilton 347 points
2. Bottas 223
3. Verstappen 214
4. Pérez 125
5. Ricciardo 119
6. Sainz 105
7. Albon 105
8. Leclerc 98
9. Norris 97
10. Gasly 75
11. Stroll 75
12. Ocon 62
13. Vettel 33
14. Kvyat 32
15. Nico Hülkenberg (D) 10
16. Räikkönen 4
17. Giovinazzi 4
18. Russell 3
19. Romain Grosjean (F) 2
20. Magnussen 1
21. Latifi 0
22. Jack Aitken (GB) 0
23. Fittipaldi 0
Brands
1. Mercedes 573
2. Red Bull Racing 319
3. McLaren 202
4. Racing Point 195
5. Renault 181
6. Ferrari 131
7. AlphaTauri 107
8. Alfa Romeo 8
9. Haas 3
10. Williams 0
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