© Vladimir RysMax’s 5 Best Racing MomentsMax gives us the lowdown on his top five career highlights
There’snodenyingthatwithninewins,36podiums,andtwopolepositionsattheageof22,MaxalreadyhasmanyhighpointsfromhisFormulaOnecareeralone.However,theDutchstarhasbeenracingsincetheageoffour,sohehasplentymoremomentstoremember.WecaughtupwithMaxtofindouthistopfiveall-timecareerhighlights…
1.TheWorldChampionshipwinningracein2013
Track: Varennes sur Allier (FRA)
Discipline: KZ Karting Championship
Year: 2013
Background: Max had already won two European karting Championships in 2013, the KZ 125cc championship (with a gearbox) and the KF championship (without a gearbox) before heading to the KZ World Championship, which is a single event. The race itself was filled with karting professionals, but it didn’t seem to affect Max in the slightest as he started on the front row of the grid and the rest is history…
Max says: “The race will always stand out. It was an easy win for me. I basically pulled away and never really had any pressure. Knowing all the hard work that had gone in before that race weekend made it very satisfying. It’s the ultimate goal to win the World Championship in karting. What made it even more special was that my dad was my engine tuner so to do it together was amazing.”
Max Taking The Karting World Championship© Courtesy of Max Verstappen
2.Threeback-to-backF3winsatSpain2014
Track: Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
Discipline: Formula 3
Year: 2014
Background: In 2014 Max drove for Van Amersfoort Racing in F3. Each round would feature three races over a weekend. In the first four rounds, Max had claimed just two pole positions and one race win. But at round five, in Spa he destroyed all his rivals by taking all three wins in the round.
Max says: “To win three in a row at Spa was a very positive week. I learned a lot because they weren’t easy wins and I had some good fights during the races. I can’t remember the entire races now, but I still remember the important moments. The races are so different to Formula One races at Spa, but I still occasionally think about them and how competitive they were.”
Max in Formula Three© Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
3.Thesecondhat-trickthatstartedhisF1career
Track: Norisring (GER)
Discipline: Formula 3
Year: 2014
Background: Directly after Spa in 2014 came the Norisring. And once again Max dominated the weekend, but this time not only did he claim all three race wins, he also collected the fastest lap in each race and took two of the three pole positions. Max’s dominance at Norisring led to a call that would change his career.
Max says: “After Spa the next round was at the Norisring and I won all three races there as well, which made it six in a row. Basically because of that we had a call from Helmut [Dr. Marko], which led to my first F1 deal. I didn’t actually take the call though, my dad spoke to him and because of what led on from those races, it will always be a special moment.”
Max Claims Another Win In F3© Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
Track: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (ESP)
Discipline: Formula One
Year: 2016
Background: After starting the season with Toro Rosso, Max was promoted to Red Bull Racing, which would mean making his debut for the senior team at the Spanish GP. Max qualified fourth, behind the dominant Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton and his then teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Hamilton and Rosberg collided with each other ending both their races while Max was able to keep his cool and claim his first F1 win 0.616s ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, making him the youngest race winner in F1 history.
Max says: “My first win in F1 in Spain was special because it was totally unexpected. It’s always a dream to win an F1 race and when it happened, it was very emotional for me and my dad. As a kid I used to watch F1 with him and I always hoped I’d be able to stand on the podium – especially the top step. It was a great day. There was a crazy level of happiness; but I think all I said when I crossed the line was: “Yes!”. Winning the championship will be the only thing to go over that.”
Max's First Win, In Spain, On His Debut© Red Bull Content Pool
5.Winningthe70thAnniversaryGP
Track: Silverstone (GBR)
Discipline: Formula One
Year: 2020
Background: This was the second race of back-to-back races at Silverstone. Max had just missed out on winning the week before when Lewis Hamilton’s tyre fell apart on the final lap. At the second race, the tyres were going to play an important part again. The perfect tyre strategy saw Max pull away from the Mercedes of Hamilton and Bottas through the final third of the race to cross the finish line 11 seconds ahead. It was a great victory for the Team as Max out-paced the dominant Mercedes duo to claim his ninth F1 victory.
Max says: “This fifth moment is a tricky one to choose, because of Brazil last year and some good races in Mexico, but I think it will have to be Silverstone this year. Beating a super-dominant car was a very satisfying win, especially after the previous weekend at the same circuit. It didn’t look like we were going to win the race, but now we know we can push Mercedes and keep the pressure on them. We need to get the best out of the car every weekend to keep our title hopes alive and although we have to be realistic, winning at Silverstone gave us some hope.”
Max Takes The Win At Silverstone© Vladimir Rys
