The controversies and triumphs of Max Verstappen, F1s most precocious driver

Max Verstappen is one of those drivers who was destined to be a world champion. Since his Formula 1 debut in 2015, it was clear that he was going to make a splash in the motorsport world. And as one of the sport’s great characters, it was also clear that Verstappen was going to generate headlines outside of his performance on the track.

Since his debut, the man affectionately dubbed ‘Mad Max’ has been smashing records one after another, and everything indicates that he will surpass the seven world title records of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.

At the moment, he has two – from 2021 and 2022. Taking into account his current age of 25 and how easily he obtained his latest title, no one doubts that he will be able to catch up with the aforementioned legends.

At 17 years and 164 days, Max was the youngest driver to race in Formula 1. It was at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix with Toro Rosso and curiously, alongside teammate Carlos Sáinz Jr.

Just weeks after his run in Australia, he would prove he was more than ready for the big league, and became the youngest driver to lead a race at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Later in the year also became the youngest to win a Grand Prix at 18 years and 225 days and the youngest to win the Grand Chelem (pole position, fastest lap, lead the entire race and victory.

Obviously, to become the best, there needs to be a strong competitive spirit and on occasions, this has gotten the better of him. Even with his closest allies, like Sergio Pérez, his partner at Red Bull, with whom he put the pressure on at the 2022 Brazilian GP.

Verstappen refused to give up sixth place to the Mexican, who was vying for runner-up. An angry Christian Horner, the team’s manager, reminded him on Sy Sports that “he is not above Red Bull. We work as a team and we run as a team.”

Also on Sky Sports, Checo Pérez himself reminded Max Verstappen that “if he has two world championships it is thanks to me”.

But why did he do it? Everything indicates that “Mad Max” was replicating a similar stunt that Checo Pérez pulled at the 2022 Monaco GP. Max Verstappen is clearly not above holding grudges! 

But his biggest controversy was the one that led him to win his first world title in 2021 in the last lap of the Abu Dhabi GP, against Lewis Hamilton who seemed destined to win. The Brit, however, ended up letting his eighth championship get away from him.

The controversy started when Verstappen apparently overtook Hamilton despite there being a safety car on the track. Mercedes, Hamilton’s team, appealed this but pictures of the event appeared inconclusive and were deemed inadmissible, so the appeal did not carry.

In addition, Verstappen was also criticised for a manoeuvre he pulled, in which when he was almost parallel with Lewis Hamilton and swept the track to cut space for the Englishman. It was a controversial but wonderful end to the World Championship and an important moment for the young driver.

It was not the first time that the two champions had a run-in on the track either. In October 2021, at the United States Grand Prix, the English driver forced the Dutchman off his line after unexpected overtaking.

The problem? This was not in a race, but in a practice run. “Mad Max” responded over the radio by calling Lewis Hamilton a "stupid idiot" and later gave Hamilton the middle finger to confirm his dissatisfaction.

Despite his fiercely competitive spirit, he has managed to avoid some of the controversies of his F1 counterparts so far, and fans of the young driver will be hoping he can stay out of the limelight for the wrong reasons.

His father, Jos Verstappen – who instilled a passion for motorsports in his son from the age of four – has had a hand in keeping Max on a steady path. But It remains to be seen just how much influence he will have over a now 20-something world champion with, according to F1Briefings, a salary of US$60 million per year