Max Verstappen has been at the start of 108 Grands Prix since 2015, winning nine Formula 1 races. But what does he think are the best moments of his career? Verstappen chooses request from his Red Bull team are top-5. And there are some unexpected choices.
5: Winst in the 70th Anniversary GP in 2020
In fifth place we find Verstappen’s first and for the time being only victory of this year. During the second race of the double header at Silverstone Mercedes has problems with the tires, something that does not bother Verstappen. The Dutch take care of his rubber and implement the strategy perfectly. At the line, he has an eleven second lead over Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen: “This one is difficult to choose, due to Brazil last year and a few good matches in Mexico. But I still think it must be Silverstone this year. To beat a super dominant car, that makes it a very nice victory that gave satisfaction, especially after last weekend on the same track. It didn’t look like we were going to win the race, but now we know we can push Mercedes and put them under pressure. We have to get the most out of the car every weekend to keep our title aspirations alive and while we have to be realistic, winning at Silverstone has given us a little hope. ”
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4: Victory at Red Bull debut
Verstappen starts the 2016 season at Toro Rosso, but after a few races he changes seats with Daniil Kvyat, who until then plays for Red Bull. In his first race for Red Bull, Verstappen starts from P4 and then sees the two Mercedes crashes on the first lap. At the end of the race, the Dutchman narrowly manages to keep Kimi Räikkönen behind him. He thus becomes the youngest race winner ever in Formula 1.
© Peter van Egmond
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“My first victory in F1 was so special because it was completely unexpected. It has always been a dream to win an F1 race and when it happened it was very emotional for me and my dad. The only thing that will surpass this is winning the championship. ”
2 & 3: Double Hatrrick in Formula 3 at Spa-Francorchamps and the Norisring
2014 is Verstappen’s first year in single-seaters. The Dutchman competes in European Formula 3 for the Dutch Van Amersfoort Racing. In that class, a race weekend consists of three races. In the first four weekends of the season, Verstappen wins one race, but he doesn’t seem to stop from Spa. First he wins the three races on the Ardennes circuit, the next race weekend he repeats that trick at the German Norisring.
“To win those three in a row at Spa, that was a positive weekend. It was an educational weekend as it was not easy to win and I had some nice fights in the races. I can still remember the important moments of the races. After Spa the lap came at the Norisring and there too I won all three races, so that it became six in a row. That’s why I got a call from Helmut (Marko, ed.), Which led to my first Formula 1 contract. I didn’t take that call myself, it was my father who spoke to him. Because of what emerged from those races, this will always be a special moment. ”
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Verstappen at work on the Norisring. © Motorsport Images
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1: World karting champion in 2013
Not his first victory in F1, not the fierce battle with Charles Leclerc in Austria, nor any other victory in F1, Max Verstappen’s favorite moment of his career took place during his karting period. In 2013, Verstappen took off to the World Championship KZ, which consists of one event. He has already won two European karting championships that year: the KZ 125cc championship and the KF championship. But in French Varennes sur Allier Verstappen conquers the world title.
“This race will always stand out. It was an easy win for me. I drove away from the rest of the field and was never really under pressure. All the hard work that went into that race weekend made it very satisfying. The ultimate goal in karting is to win the world championship. What made it even more special is that my dad did my bikes. It was great that we did it together. ”
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