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Max Verstappen

Max Emilian Verstappen (; born 30 September 1997) is a Dutch and Belgian racing driver who competes under the Dutch flag in Formula One for Red Bull Racing. Verstappen has won four Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, which he won consecutively from to with Red Bull, and has won Grands Prix across 11 seasons.

Born in Hasselt and raised in Maaseik, Verstappen is the son of Dutch former Formula One driver Jos Verstappen and Belgian former kart racer Sophie Kumpen. After a successful karting career—culminating in his record-breaking 2013 season—Verstappen graduated to junior formulae. Progressing directly to FIA European Formula 3, Verstappen broke several records on his way to third in the championship in his rookie season with Van Amersfoort. Aged 17, Verstappen signed for Toro Rosso in as part of the Red Bull Junior Team, becoming the youngest driver in Formula One history at the . Following several points finishes in his debut season, Verstappen retained his seat for before being promoted to parent team Red Bull after four rounds. On debut for Red Bull, aged 18, Verstappen won the , becoming the youngest-ever driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix. Verstappen achieved multiple race wins in his and campaigns, before finishing third in both the and World Drivers' Championships under Honda power.

Verstappen won his maiden title in after overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the last race of the season, becoming the first World Drivers' Champion from the Netherlands. Verstappen won the next two championships in and , overturning the largest points deficit in Formula One history in the former and breaking numerous records across both seasons. He secured his fourth consecutive title in after winning nine Grands Prix, including a widely acclaimed wet-weather performance in São Paulo, to become the first driver to win the championship driving for a third-placed constructor in 41 years.

As of the , Verstappen has achieved race wins, pole positions, fastest laps, and podiums in Formula One. In addition to being the youngest Grand Prix winner, he holds several Formula One records, including the most wins in a season (19), the most podium finishes in a season (21), the most consecutive wins (10), and the most consecutive pole positions (8, shared with Ayrton Senna). Verstappen is contracted to remain at Red Bull until at least the end of the 2028 season. He has also competed professionally in sim racing since 2015, winning several marquee ''iRacing'' events. Verstappen was listed in the 2024 issue of ''Time'' as one of the 100 most influential people globally, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2022. Provided by Wikipedia