Full History Of Max Verstappen In Timeline From 1983

1983: First Driver Since Nelson Piquet to Win Title for Third-Placed Team

Following the 2024 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen became the first driver since Nelson Piquet in 1983 to win a title while driving for a team that finished third in the World Constructors' Championship.

1991: First Honda-powered World Drivers' Champion since 1991

In 2022, Verstappen became the first Honda-powered World Drivers' Champion since 1991, receiving an NSX Type S from Honda as an award.

1996: Comparison to Dick Dastardly

Following the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, 1996 World Drivers' Champion Damon Hill characterized Max Verstappen's tactics as reminiscent of Wacky Races antagonist Dick Dastardly

September 1997: Birth in Hasselt, Belgium

In September 1997, Max Emilian Verstappen was born in Hasselt, Belgium to Jos Verstappen and Sophie Kumpen.

September 1997: Max Verstappen Born

In September 1997, Max Emilian Verstappen was born. He is a Dutch and Belgian racing driver who competes under the Dutch flag in Formula One.

2005: 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 2006, Max Verstappen repeated his success in karting.

2007: Rotax Max Mini Max Class

In 2007, Max Verstappen graduated to the Rotax Max Mini Max class and won the Rotax Max Challenge Belgium and the Dutch Championship.

2008: Belgian Cadet Championship

In 2008, Max Verstappen won the Belgian Cadet Championship, Rotax Max Challenge Belgium, and Benelux Karting Series in the Mini Max class.

2009: Joined Pex Racing

In 2009, Max Verstappen joined Pex Racing and defended his Mini Max titles, winning the Belgian KF5 Championship.

2010: International Karting Debut

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.

2011: WSK Euro Series Win

In 2011, Max Verstappen won the WSK Euro Series ahead of Esteban Ocon.

July 2012: Departure from Intrepid

In July 2012, it was announced that Max Verstappen would leave Intrepid. He later returned to the factory CRG team after a short stint with CRG-built Zanardi karts.

October 2013: First Experience in a Racing Car

On October 11, 2013, Max Verstappen had his first experience in a racing car at the Pembrey Circuit, driving 160 laps in a Formula Renault car.

December 2013: Formula 3 Test

In December 2013, Verstappen tested a Dallara F311 Formula 3 car run by Motopark Academy and also tested a Formula Renault car at Circuito de Jerez.

2013: Record-Breaking Karting Season

In 2013, Max Verstappen completed a record-breaking season in karting, winning three CIK-FIA championships.

2013: Additional Accolades in Karting

In 2013, Max Verstappen finished third at the KF World Championship and won the South Garda Winter Cup, WSK Euro Series, and WSK Super Master Series.

2013: Broke Sebastian Vettel's record of nine from 2013

Max Verstappen victory marked his tenth consecutive win, breaking Sebastian Vettel's record of nine from 2013

January 2014: Racing Debut in Florida Winter Series

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

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.

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 overall.

2014: Identifies more with Dutch nationality

In 2014, Verstappen, holding dual Dutch and Belgian citizenship, stated that he "feels more Dutch" due to his upbringing.

October 2015: Moves to Monaco

In October 2015, Verstappen moved to Monaco the day after obtaining his road driving license.

2015: Collision at Monaco Grand Prix

At the 2015 Monaco Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was involved in a high-speed collision with Romain Grosjean, resulting in a grid penalty and criticism.

2015: Awards at FIA Prize Giving Ceremony

At the end of the 2015 season, Max Verstappen received three awards at the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony, including "Rookie of the Year" and "Action of the Year."

2015: Grand Prix Debut

In 2015, Max Verstappen debuted as a full-time driver for Toro Rosso at the Australian Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to start a World Championship race.

2015: Preparation for Full-Time Seat at Toro Rosso

In 2015, Max Verstappen prepared for his full-time seat at Toro Rosso by replacing Jean-Éric Vergne during the first practice session at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

2015: Formula One Debut with Toro Rosso

In 2015, Max Verstappen signed with Toro Rosso as part of the Red Bull Junior Team, becoming the youngest driver in Formula One history.

2015: Joins Team Redline

Since 2015, Verstappen has been a member of Team Redline, a British-Luxembourgish multinational professional sim racing team.

May 2016: Promotion to Red Bull Racing and First Win

In May 2016, Max Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing and won the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix.

2016: Performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix

At the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen finished third after making several overtakes in the closing laps. His performance was praised but also drew criticism from Sebastian Vettel.

2016: Talent of the Century

Following Verstappen's win at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Niki Lauda described him as the "talent of the century." Christian Horner stated Verstappen is the best driver Red Bull has ever seen.

2016: Promotion to Red Bull and First Grand Prix Win

In 2016, Max Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing and won the Spanish Grand Prix on his debut, becoming the youngest-ever driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix.

2016: Hamilton's Support After Belgian Grand Prix

In 2016, after Verstappen received a warning for his driving conduct at the Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton supported the 18-year-old.

2016: "Super Max!" song release

In 2016, the fan-made song "Super Max!", performed by the Pitstop Boys, was released.

2016: Start of 2016 Season with Toro Rosso

Max Verstappen began the 2016 season at Toro Rosso, alongside Carlos Sainz. He qualified fifth for the opening race in Australia and finished tenth.

2017: Multiple Race Wins

In 2017, Max Verstappen achieved multiple race wins in his Formula One campaign.

2018: Verstappen's Progress over Ricciardo

In 2018, Helmut Marko asserted that Verstappen's progress had moved him clear of his former Formula 1 teammate Daniel Ricciardo, in both qualifying and race trim, noting Verstappen's superior speed and tire management since the second half of the 2018 season.

2018: Multiple Race Wins

In 2018, Max Verstappen achieved multiple race wins in his Formula One campaign.

February 2019: Enters Bathurst 12 Special Event

In February 2019, Verstappen entered the Bathurst 12 Special Event alongside Lando Norris.

2019: Out-qualified by a Teammate Since the 2019 Italian Grand Prix

At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, 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: Joined by Pierre Gasly at Red Bull

In 2019, Daniel Ricciardo moved to the Renault team, leading to Pierre Gasly joining Max Verstappen at Red Bull. This marked a change in the team's driver lineup for the 2019 season.

2019: Verstappen as the Fastest F1 Driver Ever

In 2019, Jenson Button stated he believes Verstappen is the fastest Formula One driver ever. Scott Mitchell commented on Verstappen's speed over one lap, and Helmut Marko stated Verstappen is the fastest driver Red Bull has ever had.

2019: Third Place in the World Drivers' Championship

In 2019, Max Verstappen finished third in the World Drivers' Championship under Honda power.

2019: Nico Rosberg's Assessment of Verstappen's Speed

In 2019, after Verstappen's pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg described him as the fastest driver in Formula One, emphasizing Verstappen's raw speed over the car's capabilities.

October 2020: Wins Petit Le Mans Special Event

In October 2020, Verstappen won the Petit Le Mans Special Event.

October 2020: Begins dating Kelly Piquet

Since October 2020, Verstappen has been dating Kelly Piquet.

November 2020: Buys Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft

In November 2020, Verstappen bought a Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft.

2020: Dominant Team Leader

In 2020, Jenson Button stated Verstappen has "annihilated their teammates" and Eddie Irvine praised Verstappen as "the most dominant team leader on the grid."

2020: L. Hamilton wins the world championship

In 2020, L. Hamilton wins the world championship.

2020: Third Place in the World Drivers' Championship

In 2020, Max Verstappen finished third in the World Drivers' Championship under Honda power.

2020: Competes in 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual

In 2020, Verstappen competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on rFactor 2.

October 2021: Most Popular F1 Driver

In October 2021, Max Verstappen was voted the most popular Formula One driver in a worldwide survey, with 14.4% of the vote.

2021: "Super Max!" goes viral

After Max Verstappen's victory at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the fan-made song "Super Max!" went viral, topping the Spotify Viral 50 chart in the Netherlands and reaching number two in the United Kingdom.

2021: Won the United States Grand Prix and Extended Championship Lead

At the 2021 United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen secured pole position and won the race, extending his lead in the Drivers' Championship to twelve points over Lewis Hamilton, who finished second.

2021: Criticism After Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Following the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen faced criticism for the penalties he incurred. Martin Brundle commented on the controversy surrounding Verstappen's driving.

2021: Verstappen One Step Ahead

In 2021, Fernando Alonso commented Verstappen is the standout driver, declaring him one step ahead. Verstappen was also ranked first in the annual Formula One team principals' top ten drivers ranking in 2021.

2021: Verstappen as the Fastest Driver in Formula One

In 2021, Jackie Stewart claimed Verstappen is the fastest driver in Formula One. Peter Windsor highlighted Verstappen's ability to change direction quickly. Franz Tost declared Verstappen to be the fastest driver in Formula One.

2021: M. Verstappen wins the world championship

In 2021, M. Verstappen wins the world championship.

2021: First Formula One World Drivers' Championship

In 2021, Max Verstappen won his first Formula One World Drivers' Championship title with Red Bull Racing after winning 10 Grands Prix.

2021: Maiden Title Win

In 2021, Max Verstappen won his maiden Formula 1 title, becoming the first World Drivers' Champion from the Netherlands.

September 2022: Appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau

In September 2022, Verstappen was appointed an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau in recognition of his racing achievements.

2022: Retirement at the Australian Grand Prix

At the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen had to retire from the race. This is mentioned as it marked the end of a long finishing streak when he retired in the 2024 edition of the race.

2022: Honda Racing Thanks Day event at Motegi

During the 2022 Honda Racing Thanks Day event at Motegi, Verstappen tested the Honda NSX-GT. After winning the event's kart race alongside Marc Márquez, Honda awarded Verstappen with an NSX Type S.

2022: Elevation to a New Level

Following the first half of the 2022 season, David Tremayne claimed Verstappen had elevated himself to a higher level, suggesting his first title had made him more relaxed.

2022: M. Verstappen wins the world championship

In 2022, M. Verstappen wins the world championship.

2022: Record-Breaking Season

In 2022, Max Verstappen achieved a record-breaking season with his nineteenth win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, surpassing his previous record of fifteen wins in 2022. He also accumulated 575 points, more than double that of second-place Pérez, setting a new points-scoring record.

2022: Appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau

In 2022, Max Verstappen was appointed an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau.

2022: Second Championship Win

In 2022, Max Verstappen won his second Formula 1 championship and overturned the largest points deficit in Formula One history.

2022: Competes in 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual

In 2022, Verstappen competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual on rFactor 2 and further rounds of the 2022-23 Le Mans Virtual Series.

2022: Appreciates both Dutch and Belgian sides

In 2022, Verstappen stated that he appreciates both his Dutch and Belgian sides, considering himself "half-half at the end of the day".

2022: First Dutch Formula One World Champion

In 2022, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to become the first Dutch Formula One World Champion. The circumstances surrounding the safety car period and restart were highly controversial.

2022: Signed a contract extension with Red Bull Racing.

In March 2022, Verstappen signed a five-year contract extension with Red Bull Racing for the 2023 to 2028 seasons.

2023: M. Verstappen wins the world championship

In 2023, M. Verstappen wins the world championship.

2023: Bahrain Grand Prix Win

In 2023, Max Verstappen began his season with a win from pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix, continuing his strong performance with Red Bull.

2023: Third Championship Win

In 2023, Max Verstappen won his third Formula 1 championship and broke numerous records.

2023: Retires from Le Mans Virtual

In 2023, Verstappen described the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual competition as a "clown show" after a technical issue saw him retire from the lead, finishing runner-up in the championship.

2023: Enters AMX Global League at Imola

In 2023, Verstappen entered the eighth round of the AMX Global League at Imola, winning the first heat.

2023: Verstappen Grandstand at Las Vegas Grand Prix

In 2023, a Verstappen grandstand was featured at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix to accommodate Dutch fans.

2023: "33 Max Verstappen" released

In 2023, the fan-made EDM track "33 Max Verstappen" was released, eventually going viral on social media due to internet memes referencing the hook: "tu tu tu du, Max Verstappen".

2023: Thierry Vermeulen Competes under Verstappen.com Racing Banner

In January 2024, Verstappen tested the Ferrari 296 GT3 alongside Thierry Vermeulen, who in 2023 competed under the Verstappen.com Racing banner.

January 2024: Drives Ferrari 296 GT3 at Portimão

In January 2024, Verstappen drove the Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão as part of a test with Emil Frey Racing. He impressed with his driving, being described as "world-class".

January 2024: Wins Daytona 24 Special Event

In January 2024, Verstappen won the Daytona 24 Special Event in the GTD class with Redline.

November 2024: Acura ARX-06 Prototype Test

On 19 November 2024, Verstappen tested the Acura ARX-06 prototype with Honda Racing Corporation at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. He expressed his desire to compete in the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans.

December 2024: Announces pregnancy with Kelly Piquet

In December 2024, Verstappen and Kelly Piquet announced they were expecting their first child together.

2024: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Accomplishments

As of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has achieved 63 race wins, 40 pole positions, 33 fastest laps, and 112 podiums in Formula One.

2024: Controversies After the Mexico City Grand Prix

Following the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen faced condemnation for incidents involving Lando Norris, resulting in time penalties. His tactics were compared to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. He also criticized alleged British bias in the media before the São Paulo race.

2024: Verstappen Proved to be F1's Best Driver

Following the winning of the 2024 World Driver's Championship, James Elson of Motor Sport stated "if there was any doubt beforehand, 2024 proved that Max Verstappen is F1’s best driver."

2024: M. Verstappen wins the world championship

In 2024, M. Verstappen wins the world championship.

2024: Victories and Challenges in 2024

In 2024, Max Verstappen achieved his 60th race win at the Canadian Grand Prix and won the Spanish Grand Prix for the seventh time that season. At the Austrian Grand Prix, he won the sprint but received a time penalty in the main race, finishing fifth. He finished second at the British Grand Prix and fifth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, criticizing his team's strategy. He finished fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix.

2024: Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Wins, Australian Grand Prix Retirement

In 2024, Max Verstappen began the season with a grand slam at the Bahrain Grand Prix and won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking his 100th Formula One podium. However, at the Australian Grand Prix, he retired on lap 4 due to a brake fire, ending his nine-race winning streak and 43-race finishing streak.