5 things you should know about Max Verstappen, Formula One’s ‘flying Dutchman’
The career of the 21-year-old ‘playboy’ Red Bull racing driver is tipped to take off next season as his team’s leading driver – and with a new Honda engine
British racing driver and reigning Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is dominating this season’s competition – and looks likely to beat his close rival German Sebastian Vettel to this year’s title.
Yet another driver, Dutchman Max Verstappen, is increasingly attracting the attention of F1 fans and commentators – not only because of his aggressive, full-on racing style, which has seen him involved in controversy, including collisions – most recently with Vettel during the Japan Grand Prix – and incur penalties.
The 21-year-old is also in the spotlight because of his talent behind the wheel and is being tipped to have a bright future in the sport.
Some observers believe next season’s F1 competition will be the one where the Dutchman takes flight in the sport.
The departure at the end of this season of his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull’s leading driver, who is joining rival Renault, will see Verstappen take over that role.
From next season Verstappen will partner – and also race alongside – 22-year-old Frenchman Pierre Gasly, who has been promoted from Toro Rosso.
The introduction of a new Honda engine, which will be used by Red Bull’s racing cars in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, has only served to heighten expectations about Verstappen.
We take a look at five things you should know about the budding superstar.
1. He holds a number of ‘youngest’ records