History of Max Verstappen in Timeline

Max Verstappen is a Dutch-Belgian racing driver competing in Formula One for Red Bull Racing under the Dutch flag. He is a four-time Formula One World Drivers' Champion, winning consecutively from 2021 to 2024. Verstappen has secured 71 Grand Prix victories over 12 seasons, establishing himself as a dominant force in the sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1983: Nelson Piquet's Achievement

In 1983, Nelson Piquet was the last driver before Verstappen to win a title driving for a third-placed team in the World Constructors' Championship.

1988: McLaren's Consecutive Wins

In 1988, McLaren held the record of eleven consecutive wins, a record Red Bull surpassed in 2023.

1991: Honda as first Honda-powered Champion since 1991

In 2022, Honda awarded Verstappen with an NSX Type S, as the first Honda-powered World Drivers' Champion since 1991.

1996: Verstappen likened to Dick Dastardly

In 2024, following the 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: Born in Hasselt, Belgium

On 30 September 1997, Max Emilian Verstappen was born in Hasselt, Belgium, to Jos Verstappen and Sophie Kumpen.

September 1997: Max Verstappen Born

On September 1997, Max Emilian Verstappen was born.

2004: Michael Schumacher's Record

In 2004, Michael Schumacher had a record of thirteen race wins in a season, a record Verstappen later broke.

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 the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

In 2019, Max Verstappen's win in Austria marked the first Honda-powered race victory since the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix. In Britain, Verstappen was hit by Sebastian Vettel, spinning him into the gravel, but he managed to finish fifth.

2007: Won 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 in that category.

2008: Won Belgian Cadet Championship

In 2008, racing in a CRG kart entered by his father, Verstappen won the Belgian Cadet Championship, the Rotax Max Challenge Belgium, and the Benelux Karting Series in Mini Max class.

2008: Honda's Last Podium Finish

In 2019, Max Verstappen's podium finish in Australia marked the first podium finish for a Honda-powered driver since 2008.

2009: Berger echoes Button's comments

In 2009, Gerhard Berger echoed Jenson Button's comments, anointing Max Verstappen as the Formula One driver of this era with the most raw talent. Berger stated that it's not just about raw talent, it's about the whole package, including setting the fastest laps and winning races and championships.

2009: Joined Pex Racing

In 2009, Max Verstappen joined Pex Racing, a CRG customer team. He defended his titles in the Mini Max championships and won the Belgian KF5 Championship.

2010: Signed by CRG and Stepped Up to International Karting

In 2010, Max Verstappen was signed by CRG to race in their factory team and stepped up to international karting. He finished second in 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: Announced Departure from 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.

2012: Karting incident with Leclerc initiates a rivalry

In 2012, a junior karting incident between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc led to a rivalry. Leclerc brushed off a collision with Verstappen as "just an incident", leading to the start of a rivalry between the two.

August 2013: First Experienced Formula Racing at Pembrey

In August 2013, Max Verstappen first experienced formula racing at Pembrey with Manor MP, driving 160 laps across two days in a Barazi-Epsilon FR2.0–10.

December 2013: Tested Formula Three and Renault Cars

In December 2013, Max Verstappen tested a Dallara F311 Formula Three car run by Motopark Academy and a Formula Renault car at Circuito de Jerez. He impressed during tests for Josef Kaufmann Racing and at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

2013: Record-Breaking Season in Karting

In 2013, Max Verstappen completed a record-breaking season in karting, winning three CIK-FIA championships in a single season, including the KZ World Championship, becoming the youngest-ever driver to win the gearbox World Championship.

2013: Finished Third at KF World Championship

In 2013, Max Verstappen finished third at the KF World Championship after being disqualified for a move on Nicklas Nielsen. He also 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: Sebastian Vettel's Consecutive Wins

In 2013, Sebastian Vettel achieved a record of nine consecutive wins, a record Verstappen later broke in 2023.

2013: Sebastian Vettel's Record

In 2013, Sebastian Vettel matched Michael Schumacher's record of thirteen race wins in a single season, a record that Verstappen later broke.

2013: Record-Breaking Karting Season

In 2013, Verstappen had a record-breaking karting season. He also progressed directly to FIA European Formula 3.

January 2014: Junior Formulae Debut

On 16 January 2014, it was announced that Max Verstappen would make his junior formulae debut in the non-championship Florida Winter Series. He won his first race on February 5 at Palm Beach International Raceway.

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 participated in the first practice session at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the youngest person to participate in a Formula One race weekend.

2014: Drove in FIA Formula 3 European Championship

In 2014, Max Verstappen drove in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship for Van Amersfoort Racing, achieving ten victories and placing third in the overall standings. He became the youngest race winner and polesitter in Formula Three history.

2014: Verstappen feels more Dutch

In 2014, Max Verstappen stated that he "feels more Dutch" and decided to compete with a Dutch racing licence, similar to his father, Jos Verstappen.

October 2015: Verstappen moves to Monaco

In October 2015, Max Verstappen moved to Monaco, where he has lived ever since.

2015: Prepared for full time seat at Toro Rosso

As part of his preparation for a full-time seat at Toro Rosso in the 2015 season, Max Verstappen replaced Jean-Éric Vergne during the first practice session at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.

2015: Grand Prix Debut

In 2015, Max Verstappen made his Grand Prix debut as a full-time driver for Toro Rosso at the Australian Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to start a World Championship race at 17 years old. He scored his first Formula One points at the Malaysian Grand Prix, breaking the record of the then-youngest driver to score World Championship points.

2015: Signed with Toro Rosso and became the Youngest F1 Driver

In 2015, Max Verstappen, at the age of 17, signed with Toro Rosso as part of the Red Bull Junior Team, becoming the youngest driver in Formula One history at the Australian Grand Prix.

2015: Monaco Grand Prix Collision and Awards

In 2015, at the Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen was involved in a high-speed collision with Romain Grosjean, receiving a grid penalty. He achieved his best finish of the season in Hungary and at the United States Grand Prix. Verstappen received FIA awards for "Rookie of the Year", "Personality of the Year" and "Action of the Year".

2015: Competed in Sim Racing Professionally

Since 2015, Max Verstappen has competed professionally in sim racing, winning several marquee iRacing events.

May 2016: Verstappen replaces Kvyat at Red Bull Racing and wins Spanish Grand Prix

In May 2016, Max Verstappen replaced Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull Racing starting with the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen qualified fourth and won the race, becoming the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix. Verstappen displaced Sebastian Vettel as the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix at the age of 18 years and 228 days.

2016: Hamilton backs Verstappen after driving conduct warning

Following Max Verstappen receiving a warning for his driving conduct at the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton defended the 18-year-old, urging people to give him a break because of his age.

2016: Lauda describes Verstappen as "talent of the century"

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

2016: Promoted to Red Bull and Won Spanish Grand Prix

In 2016, Max Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull Racing and, on debut, won the Spanish Grand Prix at 18, becoming the youngest-ever Formula One Grand Prix winner.

2016: Verstappen's performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix

In 2016, during the Brazilian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen recovered from 16th place to finish third, earning praise from Toto Wolff who called it "The Verstappen Show". He faced criticism from Sebastian Vettel for an on-track incident, though race stewards took no action.

2016: "Super Max!" goes viral

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

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2016: Began Season at 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. He finished sixth at the Bahrain race.

2017: Verstappen's wins at the Malaysian and Mexican Grand Prix

In 2017, Max Verstappen experienced seven retirements in the first 14 races due to mechanical issues and collisions. However, starting with the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017, he achieved success, winning his second Formula One race and later winning the Mexican Grand Prix after passing Sebastian Vettel. He also had a second place finish in Japan and finished third in the United States Grand Prix, but was classified fourth after his final lap overtake was deemed illegal.

2017: Multiple Race Wins

Max Verstappen achieved multiple race wins in his 2017 campaign.

2018: Marko asserts Verstappen's progress beyond Ricciardo

In 2018, Helmut Marko stated that Max Verstappen had surpassed his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo in both qualifying and race performance, citing data that showed a widening gap between them, particularly in qualifying. Marko noted that Verstappen's ability to manage tire wear, even while sliding more, contributed to his improved performance during the second half of the 2018 season.

2018: Verstappen's Strong second half of the 2018 season

In 2018, Max Verstappen had a strong second half of the season, achieving podium finishes in Belgium, Singapore, Japan, and the United States. He won his fifth career win in Mexico and finished second in Brazil after colliding with Esteban Ocon, resulting in a post-race altercation. He finished third in Abu Dhabi, ending the season in fourth place with 249 points.

2018: Incidents in the first races of the 2018 season

In 2018, Max Verstappen was involved in incidents in each of the first six races. In Australia, he damaged his car and spun. In Bahrain, during qualifying, he crashed and later collided with Lewis Hamilton, resulting in suspension damage and retirement from the race.

2018: Multiple Race Wins

Max Verstappen achieved multiple race wins in his 2018 campaign.

February 2019: Verstappen enters Bathurst 12 Special Event

In February 2019, Max Verstappen entered the Bathurst 12 Special Event on iRacing—a 12-hour virtual team endurance race—alongside Lando Norris.

2019: Nico Rosberg describes Verstappen as fastest driver

Following Max Verstappen's first pole position at the 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg described him as the fastest driver in Formula One. Rosberg said that Verstappen did not have the fastest car during the qualifying session in Hungary, and it was Verstappen's speed that allowed him to secure pole position.

2019: Jenson Button states Verstappen is the fastest F1 driver ever

In 2019, Jenson Button stated that Max Verstappen is the fastest Formula One driver ever, highlighting his exceptional speed. Scott Mitchell from The Race noted that Verstappen is the quickest driver in F1 over one lap when everything aligns, but he needs to eliminate occasional mistakes. Helmut Marko also added that Verstappen is the fastest driver Red Bull has ever had.

2019: Lewis Hamilton's Record

In 2019, Lewis Hamilton set a record of 413 points, a record Verstappen later beat.

2019: Finished Third in World Drivers' Championship

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

2019: Verstappen's Pole and Victory in Brazil

In 2019, Max Verstappen qualified in first place in Mexico but received a grid penalty. He later recovered to sixth after a puncture. He achieved a third-place finish in the United States. In Brazil, he secured pole position and claimed his third victory of the season after passing Lewis Hamilton multiple times. He finished the season in third place with 278 points, including three wins, nine podiums, and two pole positions.

2019: Verstappen's season with Honda power units

In 2019, Max Verstappen transitioned to Honda power units with Red Bull and was joined by Pierre Gasly. He achieved a podium finish in Australia, marking the first podium for a Honda-powered driver since 2008. He finished fourth in Bahrain, China and Azerbaijan, and had a podium in Spain. In Monaco, a penalty demoted him to fourth after initially gaining second place.

2019: Last time Verstappen was out-qualified by teammate

In 2021, at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Verstappen qualified third with teammate Sergio Pérez second, marking the first time since the 2019 Italian Grand Prix that he was out-qualified by a teammate.

October 2020: Verstappen wins Petit Le Mans Special Event

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

October 2020: Verstappen starts dating Kelly Piquet

Since October 2020, Max Verstappen has been dating Brazilian-Dutch model Kelly Piquet, the daughter of three-time World Drivers' Champion Nelson Piquet.

November 2020: Verstappen buys Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft

In November 2020, Max Verstappen purchased a Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft from Virgin Galactic.

2020: Verstappen's Controversial Comments and Season End

In 2020, During Free Practice for the Portuguese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen faced criticism for using offensive language on the team radio. He apologized for his word choices. Verstappen finished the 2020 season in third place with 214 points, two race victories, eleven podiums, one pole position, and three fastest laps.

2020: Button comments on Verstappen's dominance over teammates

In 2020, Jenson Button commented that Max Verstappen has significantly outperformed his teammates compared to other drivers in recent times. Eddie Irvine added that Verstappen is the most dominant team leader on the grid because none of his teammates have come close to him. Jolyon Palmer also suggested that Verstappen's World Championship victory could initiate a new era of dominance in the sport.

2020: Verstappen's Podium Finishes and Retirements in 2020

In 2020, Max Verstappen finished second at the Spanish Grand Prix and third at the Belgian Grand Prix. He experienced consecutive retirements at the Italian and Tuscan Grands Prix. He finished second at the Russian and Eifel Grand Prix, also achieving the fastest lap at the Eifel Grand Prix. At the Portuguese Grand Prix, he recovered to third. A puncture at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix resulted in another retirement.

2020: Finished Third in World Drivers' Championship

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

2020: Verstappen's 2020 Austrian and Hungarian Grand Prix

In 2020, Max Verstappen started second at the Austrian Grand Prix but retired early due to an electronic issue. At the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2020, he crashed during the formation lap but his mechanics repaired his car, and he recovered to finish second. He won the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone after starting fourth.

2020: 2020 Formula One World Champion

The 2020 Formula One World Champion was L. Hamilton

October 2021: Verstappen voted most popular Formula One driver

In October 2021, Max Verstappen was voted the most popular Formula One driver in a worldwide survey by Nielsen Media Research and Motorsport Network, earning 14.4% of the vote, with success in the United States and Japan. The managing director of Honda praised Verstappen's support during the Dutch Grand Prix.

2021: "Super Max!" goes viral after his victory

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

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2021: Alonso Comments on Verstappen's driving talent

Fernando Alonso commented in 2021 that Max Verstappen is the standout driver in Formula One, calling him "one step ahead" of everyone else. Alonso noted that Verstappen deserved to win the 2021 Formula One World Championship ahead of the title decider. Karun Chandhok likened Verstappen's driving style to Michael Schumacher.

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 driving style sometimes creates confusion and controversy regarding whether it's hard racing or a professional foul outside of the regulations.

2021: Stewart claims Verstappen is fastest driver in Formula One

In 2021, Jackie Stewart claimed that Max Verstappen is the fastest driver in Formula One but is still in the "puppy stage" of his career. Peter Windsor highlighted Verstappen's ability to change direction quickly through Silverstone's corners. Franz Tost declared Verstappen to be the fastest driver following his maiden title win.

2021: Verstappen's rivalry with Hamilton

In 2021, Max Verstappen had a significant rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, with the title battle being compared to other legendary rivalries like the Prost–Senna rivalry. The two drivers swapped leads five times, finished 1-2 in fourteen out of 22 races, and had numerous on-track incidents, culminating in a title decider at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap to win the race and the championship.

2021: Verstappen's first F1 championship win in 2021

In 2021, Max Verstappen won his first F1 championship. He took pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix and finished second after a battle with Lewis Hamilton. At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2021, he qualified third but won the race, reducing Hamilton's championship lead to one point.

2021: Won First F1 World Drivers' Championship

In 2021, Max Verstappen won his first Formula One World Drivers' Championship title, becoming the first Dutch champion.

2021: Verstappen's Victories at the United States and Mexico City Grand Prix

In 2021, Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix after taking pole position, extending his championship lead to twelve points. He also won the Mexico City Grand Prix in 2021 after starting third and taking the lead at the start, increasing his championship lead to 19 points.

2021: 2021 Russian Grand Prix Qualifying

In the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen chose not to run any qualifying laps due to impending engine and grid penalties, resulting in his lowest qualifying position since then at the São Paulo Grand Prix.

2021: 2021 Formula One World Champion

The 2021 Formula One World Champion was M. Verstappen

March 2022: Verstappen signed a five-year contract extension with Red Bull Racing

In March 2022, Max Verstappen signed a five-year contract extension with Red Bull Racing for the 2023 to 2028 seasons, securing his place with the team for the foreseeable future.

September 2022: Verstappen appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau

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

2022: Verstappen tests Honda NSX-GT and receives NSX Type S

During the 2022 Honda Racing Thanks Day event at Motegi, Max 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: Tremayne claims Verstappen elevated himself

Following an impressive first half of the 2022 season, David Tremayne claimed that Max Verstappen had elevated himself to a new higher level compared to his 2021 title-winning season, suggesting that his first title had made him more relaxed.

2022: Verstappen and Leclerc battle for championship

In 2022, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc battled for the championship at the beginning of the season before Ferrari's performance declined, eventually allowing Red Bull and Verstappen to secure both championships. Verstappen's battles with Leclerc are characterized as cleaner and more respectful.

2022: Breaking his own record

In 2022, Max Verstappen broke his own record by achieving fifteen wins in a single year and also broke his own points-scoring record.

2022: Verstappen appreciates both Dutch and Belgian sides

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

2022: Appointed Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau

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

2022: Won Second Championship

In 2022, Max Verstappen won his second Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

2022: 2022 Formula One World Champion

The 2022 Formula One World Champion was M. Verstappen

2022: Previous Retirement

The Australian Grand Prix in 2024 marked Max Verstappen's first retirement since 2022 due to a brake fire.

2023: Verstappen remained with Red Bull alongside Sergio Pérez

In 2023, Max Verstappen continued racing with Red Bull alongside Sergio Pérez, starting the season with a win at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

2023: Won Third Championship

In 2023, Max Verstappen won his third consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championship, breaking numerous records.

2023: Verstappen Grandstand at Las Vegas Grand Prix

In 2023, a Verstappen grandstand was featured at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, showcasing the significant fanbase Max Verstappen has accumulated, particularly from the Netherlands, where his fans are referred to as the Orange Army due to the association with the national color.

2023: "33 Max Verstappen" goes viral

In 2023, another fan-made EDM track "33 Max Verstappen" was released and went viral on social media, referencing the hook "tu tu tu du, Max Verstappen".

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2023: 2023 Formula One World Champion

The 2023 Formula One World Champion was M. Verstappen

January 2024: Verstappen wins Daytona 24 Special Event

In January 2024, Max Verstappen entered the Daytona 24 Special Event, winning the GTD class with Redline. This victory further established him as a leading sim racer.

January 2024: Verstappen drives Ferrari 296 GT3 at Portimão

In January 2024, Max Verstappen participated in a two-day test driving the Ferrari 296 GT3 at Portimão with the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters team Emil Frey Racing, alongside Thierry Vermeulen. His performance was lauded as "world-class" by team principal Lorenz Frey-Hilti.

November 2024: Verstappen tests Acura ARX-06

On 19 November 2024, Max 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 interest in competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans races.

2024: Elson states Verstappen is F1's best driver

After Max Verstappen won the 2024 World Drivers' Championship in the third-placed RB20, James Elson of Motor Sport stated that "2024 proved that Max Verstappen is F1's best driver", adding that he knows how to win in the race.

2024: Verstappen receives condemnation after Mexico City Grand Prix

Following the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix, Max Verstappen faced condemnation for incidents involving Lando Norris, resulting in time penalties. Commentators likened his tactics to those of Senna and Schumacher. Verstappen later criticized the alleged British bias in the media before the São Paulo race.

2024: Verstappen's Performance in the 2024 Season

In 2024, Max Verstappen continued his racing career, achieving his 60th race win at the Canadian Grand Prix and securing his seventh win at the Spanish Grand Prix. Despite some challenges, he maintained a strong performance throughout the season.

2024: Won Fourth Consecutive F1 World Drivers' Championship

In 2024, Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championship title with Red Bull Racing, winning nine Grands Prix and receiving acclaim for his performance in São Paulo.

2024: 2024 Season

In the 2024 season, Max Verstappen started with a grand slam at the Bahrain Grand Prix and a win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He faced his first retirement since 2022 at the Australian Grand Prix due to a brake fire.

2024: Listed as One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

Max Verstappen was listed in the 2024 issue of Time as one of the 100 most influential people globally.

2024: 2024 Formula One World Champion

The 2024 Formula One World Champion was M. Verstappen

January 2025: Verstappen acquires Mangusta GranSport 33 yacht

In January 2025, Max Verstappen acquired a Mangusta GranSport 33 yacht, named Unleash the Lion.

April 2025: Verstappen and Piquet have their first daughter

In April 2025, Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet welcomed their first daughter.

May 2025: Verstappen tests under pseudonym

In May 2025, Max Verstappen entered testing for the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie under the pseudonym "Franz Hermann" in the 296, reportedly setting an unofficial GT3 lap record in an attempt to obtain a licence to compete on the Nordschleife. He received an FIA Platinum licence later that month, allowing him to compete in top-level endurance racing.

September 2025: Verstappen makes Nordschleife debut and GT3 race debut and win

In September 2025, Max Verstappen made his competitive debut on the Nordschleife in the seventh round for Lionspeed GP, completing the laps required for a GT3 permit in a horsepower-restricted Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS, finishing seventh in-class. Later that month, Verstappen made his GT3 race debut and won, driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 with Chris Lulham in the Nürburgring Endurance Series for Emil Frey Racing.

2025: Questioning in Abu Dhabi

Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix in 2026, Verstappen refused to answer media questions until The Guardian journalist Giles Richards was removed, following Richards's pointed questioning in Abu Dhabi regarding the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix.

2025: Benson says Verstappen is regarded as the best driver in the world

By 2025, Andrew Benson of BBC Sport expressed that Max Verstappen was "regarded by almost everyone in [Formula One] as the best driver in the world".

2025: 2025 Season Challenges

In 2025, Max Verstappen faced performance challenges, finishing second at the Australian Grand Prix and struggling with tyre wear and car performance in China, where he finished fourth. He also experienced pit stop struggles in Bahrain.

2025: Finished Runner-Up

In 2025, Max Verstappen finished runner-up by two points in a three-way title battle with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

2025: Verstappen's qualifying lap at Japanese Grand Prix

Max Verstappen received widespread acclaim for his pole lap at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, with Andrew Benson of BBC Sport regarding the lap as one of the greatest of all time.

2025: 2025 Formula One World Champion

The 2025 Formula One World Champion was L. Norris

March 2026: Verstappen Racing announces 24 Hours of Nürburgring debut

In March 2026, it was announced that both the Verstappen Racing team and Max Verstappen would make their 24 Hours of Nürburgring debut, partnering with Winward Racing. Verstappen will drive the No. 3 Red Bull–liveried Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo alongside Gounon, Juncadella and Auer.

March 2026: Verstappen rebrands esports organization

On 23 March 2026, Max Verstappen absorbed Team Redline into his wider Verstappen Racing motorsport project, rebranding the esports organization to Verstappen Sim Racing.

2026: Race Wins, Pole Positions, Fastest Laps, and Podiums

As of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has achieved 71 race wins, 48 pole positions, 37 fastest laps, and 127 podiums in Formula One.

2026: Verstappen participates in Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie

In 2026, Max Verstappen participated in the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie in preparation for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo run by Winward Racing. He achieved his maiden NLS pole position but was later disqualified for exceeding the tyre limit.

2026: Verstappen to run number 3 and considers retirement

In 2026, Max Verstappen was partnered with Isack Hadjar and announced he would use the number 3 on his car. He started the season with a crash at the Australian Grand Prix, recovering to sixth. At the Chinese Grand Prix, he qualified eighth and retired due to an engine issue. He later refused to answer media questions until a journalist was removed and told BBC Sport that he was considering retirement after the 2026 season.

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