Max Verstappen has had to wait for it in 2026, but the winning feeling is back. On 4 October he took pole and won the rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix, held at Sepang in Malaysia, for his and Red Bull's first victory of the new rules era, then won the Singapore sprint six days later. Back in August he also signed a new Red Bull contract running to the end of 2030.
Now 29, the Dutchman has four world titles and 72 Grand Prix wins. Here is his story so far. Find his designs in our Formula 1 collection.
Max Verstappen Fact File
| Full name | Max Emilian Verstappen |
| Date of birth | 30 September 1997 (age 29) |
| Place of birth | Hasselt, Belgium |
| Height | 1.81m (5ft 11in) |
| Role | Formula 1 driver |
| Nationality | Dutch (races under the Dutch flag) |
| Current team | Red Bull Racing (contracted to the end of 2030) |
| Car number | 3 (2026); previously 33 and 1 |
| Family | Son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen and kart racer Sophie Kumpen |
Career History
| Years | Team | GP wins | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | Toro Rosso | 0 | – |
| 2016–2020 | Red Bull Racing | 10 | Best: 3rd (2019, 2020) |
| 2021–2024 | Red Bull Racing | 53 | World champion x4 |
| 2025 | Red Bull Racing | 8 | 2nd, two points behind Lando Norris |
| 2026 | Red Bull Racing | 1 (so far) | 5th before the Singapore GP |
| Career | 72 | 4 titles | |
Grand Prix wins only (sprints not included), up to and including the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix. Career totals at that point: 249 starts, 49 poles and 135 podiums.
Born to Race
Racing is in the family. Max's father Jos raced in Formula 1 and his mother Sophie Kumpen was a top kart racer. Max started karting at four, won a KZ world title and two European titles in 2013, and after one season of Formula 3 in 2014 he was handed a Toro Rosso drive. At the 2015 Australian Grand Prix, aged 17 years and 166 days, he became the youngest driver ever to start a Formula 1 race.
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Youngest Winner in History
Four races into 2016, Red Bull promoted him to the senior team. On his debut for them at the Spanish Grand Prix he won, aged 18 years and 228 days, making him the youngest Grand Prix winner of all time. Wins followed in Malaysia and Mexico in 2017, and he became a regular podium threat, finishing third in the championship in 2019 and 2020.
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Four in a Row
In 2021 Max became the first Dutch Formula 1 world champion after a season-long duel with Lewis Hamilton. What came next was dominance. He won 15 races in 2022 and then 19 of the 22 Grands Prix in 2023, a record for a single season, including 10 wins in a row and a record 575 points. A fourth straight title followed in 2024.
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New Rules, Same Hunger
In 2025 he won eight times and lost the title to Lando Norris by just two points. The 2026 regulations made Red Bull's start harder, but Max kept scoring, signed on to 2030 in August and broke through with victory in the wet at Sepang.
Honours
Formula 1
- World champion: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Runner-up: 2025
- 72 Grand Prix wins, 49 pole positions, 135 podiums (to Bahrain 2026)
Records
- Youngest F1 starter (17 years 166 days) and youngest Grand Prix winner (18 years 228 days)
- Most wins in a season: 19 (2023)
- Most consecutive wins: 10 (2023)
- Most points in a season: 575 (2023)
Other
- Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2022)
Away From the Track
Max is a serious sim racer who has competed professionally since 2015 and has won major iRacing events. He also runs his own team, Verstappen Racing, and his partner is Kelly Piquet.
FAQs
How old is Max Verstappen?
Max Verstappen was born on 30 September 1997, so he is 29.
Where was Max Verstappen born?
He was born in Hasselt, Belgium, but races under the Dutch flag, his father's nationality.
How tall is Max Verstappen?
He is around 1.81m, or 5ft 11in.
What teams has Max Verstappen driven for?
Toro Rosso in 2015 and early 2016, then Red Bull Racing from the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, with a contract to the end of 2030.
How many world titles has Max Verstappen won?
Four, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. He finished second in 2025 by two points.
What is Max Verstappen's most famous record?
Winning the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix at 18 makes him the youngest race winner in F1 history, and his 19 wins in 2023 are the most in a single season.
Shop the Max Verstappen Collection
Four made-to-order designs for fans of the four-time champion.
Explore the full Formula 1 collection, or design your own with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Lewis Hamilton Career Story and Ayrton Senna Career Story.
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