Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Max Verstappen
Discover the career path of Max Verstappen, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Max Verstappen is a highly successful Dutch-Belgian Formula One driver racing for Red Bull Racing. He has secured four consecutive World Drivers' Championship titles from 2021 to 2024. Throughout his 11 seasons in Formula One, Verstappen has achieved an impressive 65 Grand Prix victories, solidifying his position as a dominant force in the sport.
1988: McLaren's Win Record
In 1988, McLaren set a record of eleven consecutive wins which Red Bull broke later in their history.
1996: Damon Hill wins World Championship
In 1996, Damon Hill won the World Drivers' Championship
2005: Competed in Mini Junior Championship
In 2005, Max Verstappen competed in the Mini Junior championship of Limburg, Belgium, and won the VAS Championship.
2006: Repeated Success in Mini Junior Championship
In 2006, Max Verstappen repeated his success in the Mini Junior championship.
2006: First Honda-powered race victory since 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix
In Austria in 2006, Verstappen started third but suffered a poor start, dropping down to eighth. After a charge towards the front, he made his way up to second before controversially passing Leclerc for the lead of the race with three laps to go. This marked the first Honda-powered race victory since the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.
2007: Graduation to Rotax Max Mini Max Class
In 2007, Max Verstappen graduated to the Rotax Max Mini Max class, winning the Rotax Max Challenge Belgium and the Dutch Championship.
2008: Won Belgian Cadet Championship
In 2008, racing in a CRG kart, Verstappen won the Belgian Cadet Championship, as well as the Rotax Max Challenge Belgium and Benelux Karting Series in the Mini Max class.
2009: Joined Pex Racing
In 2009, Max Verstappen joined Pex Racing, a CRG customer team, defending his Mini Max titles and winning the Belgian KF5 Championship.
2010: Signed by CRG to Race in Factory Team
In 2010, Max Verstappen was signed by CRG to race in their factory team and stepped up to international karting. He finished second at the KF3 World Cup and won the WSK Euro Series and WSK World Series.
2011: Won WSK Euro Series
In 2011, Max Verstappen won the WSK Euro Series ahead of Esteban Ocon in a Parilla-powered CRG kart.
July 2012: Left Intrepid
In July 2012, it was announced that Max Verstappen would leave Intrepid, later returning to the factory CRG team after a short stint with Zanardi karts.
August 2013: Formula Racing Experience
In August 2013, Max Verstappen first experienced formula racing at Pembrey with Manor MP, driving 160 laps in a Barazi-Epsilon FR2.0-10 across two days.
December 2013: Formula Three and Renault Testing
In December 2013, Max Verstappen tested a Dallara F311 Formula Three car run by Motopark Academy, followed by an additional Formula Renault test at Circuito de Jerez. He also tested for Josef Kaufmann Racing.
2013: Further Karting Success
In 2013, Max Verstappen also finished third at the KF World Championship and won the South Garda Winter Cup in KF2, as well as the WSK Euro Series and the WSK Super Master Series in KZ1 and KZ2, respectively.
2013: Record-Breaking Karting Season
In 2013, Max Verstappen completed a record-breaking season in karting, winning three CIK-FIA championships: two European Championships and a World Championship. He became the youngest-ever driver to win the gearbox World Championship.
2013: Sebastian Vettel's Record
In 2013, Sebastian Vettel set a record of nine consecutive wins which Max Verstappen broke later in his career.
January 2014: Racing Debut in Florida Winter Series
On 16 January 2014, it was announced that Max Verstappen would make his racing debut in the non-championship Florida Winter Series. He won the race at Palm Beach International Raceway on 5 February after starting from pole and won again at Homestead–Miami Speedway a few weeks later.
August 2014: Joined Red Bull Junior Team
In August 2014, Max Verstappen joined the Red Bull Junior Team after testing a Formula Renault 3.5 car. He also considered an offer from Mercedes.
2014: FIA Formula 3 European Championship
In 2014, Max Verstappen drove in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship for Van Amersfoort Racing, achieving 10 victories and placing third in the overall standings. He became the youngest race winner and polesitter in Formula Three history.
2015: Collision at Monaco Grand Prix
At the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen was involved in a high-speed collision with Romain Grosjean, resulting in a grid penalty and being branded "dangerous" by Felipe Massa.
2015: Preparation for Full-Time Seat at Toro Rosso
During the first practice session at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen replaced Jean-Éric Vergne as part of his preparation for a full-time seat at Toro Rosso in the 2015 season.
2015: Formula One Debut
In 2015, Max Verstappen became the youngest driver to start a World Championship race, joining Toro Rosso's race drivers' line-up at the Australian Grand Prix at the age of 17. He scored his first Formula One points at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
2015: Awards at FIA Prize Giving Ceremony
In 2015, Verstappen regularly finished in the points and achieved his best finish of the season in Hungary by finishing fourth. At the end of the season, Verstappen received three awards at the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony, including "Rookie of the Year".
2015: Signed for Toro Rosso
In 2015, aged 17, Max Verstappen signed for Toro Rosso as part of the Red Bull Junior Team, becoming the youngest driver in Formula One history at the Australian Grand Prix.
2015: Verstappen Joins Team Redline
Since 2015, Max Verstappen has been a member of Team Redline, a professional sim racing team, which he says helps with his real-life racing.
2015: Sim Racing Career
Since 2015, Verstappen has competed professionally in sim racing, winning several marquee iRacing events.
May 2016: Promotion to Red Bull Racing
On 5 May 2016, Red Bull Racing announced that Max Verstappen would be replacing Daniil Kvyat from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards. Verstappen went on to win the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix.
2016: Verstappen's Maiden Formula One win in 2016
Following his maiden Formula One win at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Niki Lauda described Verstappen as the "talent of the century." Christian Horner stated that Verstappen is the best driver Red Bull has ever seen.
2016: Promotion to Red Bull and Spanish Grand Prix Win
In 2016, Max Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull after four rounds and, on debut for Red Bull, won the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest-ever driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix at 18 years old.
2016: Hamilton Defends Verstappen
In 2016, following a warning for his driving conduct at the Belgian Grand Prix, 18-year-old Max Verstappen received support from Lewis Hamilton, who urged people to give him a break.
2017: Multiple Race Wins
In 2017, Verstappen achieved multiple race wins, marking a successful campaign in Formula One.
2018: Verstappen's progress in 2018
In 2018, Helmut Marko asserted that Verstappen's progress had moved him clear of Daniel Ricciardo, noting a greater gap in qualifying and highlighting Verstappen's ability to keep the tires alive.
2018: Multiple Race Wins
In 2018, Verstappen continued to achieve multiple race wins in his Formula One campaign.
February 2019: Verstappen Enters Bathurst 12 Special Event
In February 2019, Max Verstappen entered the Bathurst 12 Special Event on iRacing alongside Lando Norris.
2019: Out-qualified by teammate
At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2019, Verstappen qualified third with teammate Sergio Pérez second, marking the first time he was out-qualified by a teammate since the 2019 Italian Grand Prix.
2019: Red Bull switches to Honda power units; Verstappen joins Red Bull
In 2019, Red Bull switched from Renault to Honda power units. After Ricciardo moved to the Renault team for 2019, Verstappen was joined at Red Bull by Pierre Gasly.
2019: Third in World Drivers' Championship
In 2019, Verstappen finished third in the World Drivers' Championship under Honda power.
October 2020: Verstappen Wins Petit Le Mans Special Event
In October 2020, Max Verstappen won the Petit Le Mans Special Event on iRacing.
2020: Dominance Highlighted in 2020
During the 2020 season, Jenson Button stated that Verstappen had "annihilated" his teammates, and Jolyon Palmer commented that Verstappen's maiden World Championship triumph could usher in a "new era of dominance" in the sport.
2020: Verstappen Competes in 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual
In 2020, Max Verstappen competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on rFactor 2.
2020: Third in World Drivers' Championship
In 2020, Verstappen finished third in the World Drivers' Championship for the second consecutive year under Honda power.
2021: Honda Praises Verstappen's Support at Dutch Grand Prix
During the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix, Masashi Yamamoto of Honda praised Max Verstappen's support, noting the great turnout and comparing it to being in a football stadium.
2021: Verstappen Faces Criticism After Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Following the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen faced criticism for penalties incurred during the race. Martin Brundle noted that Verstappen's car control and cunning sometimes created confusion and controversy.
2021: Alonso Comments on Verstappen's Performance
In 2021, Fernando Alonso declared Max Verstappen the standout driver in Formula One, considering him "one step ahead" of everyone and deserving of the World Championship.
2021: First Formula One World Drivers' Championship
In 2021, Max Verstappen won his maiden Formula One World Drivers' Championship, becoming the first champion from the Netherlands after overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the last race of the season.
March 2022: Verstappen signs contract extension with Red Bull
In March 2022, Verstappen signed a five-year contract extension with Red Bull Racing for the 2023 to 2028 seasons.
2022: Breaking Records in 2022
In 2022, Max Verstappen broke his own record by achieving nineteen wins in the season. He also surpassed his previous points-scoring record, accumulating 575 points, more than double that of second-placed Pérez.
2022: Verstappen Competes in 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual
In 2022, Max Verstappen competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on rFactor 2.
2022: Verstappen.com Racing Founded
In 2022, Max Verstappen founded the racing team Verstappen.com Racing, supporting his father Jos and Thierry Vermeulen.
2022: Second Consecutive World Championship
In 2022, Verstappen won his second consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championship, overturning the largest points deficit in Formula One history.
2022: Tremayne Claims Verstappen Elevated Himself to a New Higher Level
In 2022, journalist David Tremayne claimed that Max Verstappen had elevated himself to a new higher level compared to his 2021 title-winning season, suggesting his first title had made him more relaxed.
2023: Verstappen Competes in 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual and Criticizes the Competition
In 2023, Max Verstappen competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on rFactor 2 but described the competition as a "clown show" after a technical issue led to his retirement.
2023: Verstappen Wins First Heat at Imola
In 2023, Max Verstappen entered the eighth round of the AMX Global League at Imola, winning the first heat.
2023: Third Consecutive World Championship
In 2023, Max Verstappen won his third consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championship, breaking numerous records.
January 2024: Verstappen Tests Ferrari 296 GT3 at Portimão
In January 2024, Max Verstappen tested the Ferrari 296 GT3 at Portimão with Emil Frey Racing, impressing with his driving.
January 2024: Verstappen Wins Daytona 24 Special Event
In January 2024, Max Verstappen won the GTD class at the Daytona 24 Special Event with Redline, leading to claims he is one of the best sim racers.
November 2024: Verstappen Tests Acura ARX-06 and Expresses Interest in Endurance Racing
On November 19, 2024, Max Verstappen tested the Acura ARX-06 with Honda Racing Corporation at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and expressed interest in competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans.
2024: Controversies and Criticism After the Mexico City Grand Prix
Following the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, Max Verstappen faced condemnation for incidents involving Lando Norris, resulting in time penalties. His tactics were compared to Senna and Schumacher. Later that year, Verstappen criticized the alleged British bias in the media.
2024: Fourth Consecutive World Championship
In 2024, Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championship after winning nine Grands Prix, including a wet-weather performance in São Paulo.
2024: Mid-Season Performance in 2024
In 2024, during the Canadian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and George Russell set identical lap times, with Russell starting on pole. Verstappen won his 60th race. He also won the Spanish Grand Prix. At the Austrian Grand Prix, he won the sprint but received a penalty in the main race. He finished second at the British Grand Prix and fifth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, criticizing his team's strategy. He was classified fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix.
May 2025: Verstappen Tests at Nürburgring and Receives FIA Platinum License
In May 2025, Max Verstappen tested at the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie under the pseudonym "Franz Hermann" and later received an FIA Platinum license.
2025: Hungarian Grand Prix Accomplishments
As of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen has achieved 65 race wins, 44 pole positions, 34 fastest laps, and 117 podiums in Formula One.
2025: Verstappen Regarded as Best Driver in Formula One
By 2025, Max Verstappen was almost universally regarded as the best driver in Formula One, according to Andrew Benson of BBC Sport.
2025: 2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Red Bull trailed McLaren in performance. Max Verstappen finished second at the Australian Grand Prix, third in the sprint and fourth in the main race in China. He claimed pole and victory at the Japanese Grand Prix. He finished sixth in Bahrain and second in Saudi Arabia after a penalty. He finished fourth in the Miami sprint and fourth in the main race.
2025: Verstappen.com Racing Debuts in Endurance Cup and Takes Gold Cup Victory
In 2025, Verstappen.com Racing debuted as a standalone team in the Endurance Cup, taking the Gold Cup victory at the 24 Hours of Spa.
2028: Contracted to Red Bull Until End of Season
Verstappen is contracted to remain at Red Bull until at least the end of the 2028 season.
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