Max Verstappen has been a force to be reckoned with since the day he stepped into a Formula 1 car at just 17 years old in 2014. Bursting onto the scene, unafraid to have his voice heard, the young Dutchman was turning heads, and occasionally spinning cars, as he began his career at Red Bull’s junior team Toro Rosso.
Formula 1’s youngest ever competitor received immediate paddock attention and was promptly promoted to the top team shortly after his first race. An impressive debut for Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix saw him become the sport’s youngest race winner after at the age of 18 years and 228 days. A star was born.
Red Bull, specifically motorsport advisor Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner, recognised Verstappen’s potential and had no intention of letting him go. Their faith was repaid last year with their first world championship title since 2013.
Now, as Red Bull enter a new era following Honda’s departure from the sport, the team have locked…