The talent of the century with the bully image

Celebrated as the talent of the century, Verstappen entered the premier class of motorsport at the age of just 17, sensationally won his first Grand Prix at the age of 18 and is now facing a special anniversary at just 22: on Sunday (20.10:100 p.m.) the Red Bull driver will compete in the USA already its XNUMXth race.

Autographs from Verstappen are always in demand among fans. © AFP / GERARD JULIEN

Verstappen has already won seven times in the premier class - the hothead gave away a possible eighth success last weekend in Mexico by relapsing into the bully days that were long thought to be over. His sixth place was “quite a shame,” he said. In qualifying, Verstappen took pole position, but then did not take his foot off the accelerator as required after Valtteri Bottas crashed in the Mercedes. A punishment followed – and no insight whatsoever. He tried to score points in the race with tough maneuvers, but failed, slashed his tire and was temporarily passed to the back. Feared for his uncompromising driving style “I don’t see any intention on his part. It’s just as if he magnetically attracts situations like this,” said world champion Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen is feared for his uncompromising driving style, but he recently seemed to have the brutal wheel-to-wheel duels better under control. It was said that he had become an adult. But Hamilton also made it clear: “With him, it's just the case that a collision is very likely if you don't give him extra space. So that’s what you do most of the time.”

Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel was sitting right next to Hamilton when he spoke these words and agreed: "Copy and paste." Vettel is currently still the youngest Formula 23 champion at 134 years and 2010 days in 1. Verstappen stole other records from him. For example that of the youngest Grand Prix winner. Verstappen was only 2016 years and 18 days old in Barcelona in 228. For comparison: Vettel was 21, Michael Schumacher 23 and Ayrton Senna was already 25. Everything for the title Of course, Verstappen is aware of his sometimes quite negative image. But it doesn't bother him. “If at the end of my career I have won five world titles, but maybe I'm not the person who is liked the most, then I don't care,” he said in an interview with the British broadcaster BBC earlier this month: “Because at the end “The only thing that matters every day is winning.” And that sometimes requires tough maneuvers. “If it needs a touch, then it needs it. It doesn’t always have to be the cleanest way.”

“I would do anything to win.” Max Verstappen The youngster also makes it clear that he will not make any compromises on the way to winning the World Cup. “Maybe that sounds a bit arrogant, even if it doesn't mean to sound that way: I would do anything to win. If it doesn’t need to be dirty but needs to be a little harder, then I’ll do that.”

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The talent of the century with the bully image

Max Verstappen still has one year left. One year to become the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history. A year to prove to everyone what the Dutchman is convinced of: “I can win the title.”

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