Today, September 30, 2026, Max Verstappen celebrates his 29th birthday. The Dutch pilot, who began his motorsport journey in early childhood, is now one of the most iconic figures in modern Formula 1. With a career that started by driving a quad bike at the age of two, Verstappen has evolved from a karting prodigy into a four-time world champion, setting standards that will remain a benchmark for future generations of drivers for years to come.

The path to the top and his debut at 17

. Born in Hasselt, Belgium, to professional racing drivers Jos Verstappen and Sophie Kumpen, Max was destined for success. His Formula 1 debut at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix at the age of 17 years, five months, and 13 days was a historic event, making him the youngest driver in the championship's history. His move to the Red Bull team in 2016 was marked by a triumphant victory in Barcelona, where he became the youngest Grand Prix winner in history at 18 years and 228 days old.

Contradictory data

In the sports press, there are sometimes discrepancies regarding the driver's national status due to his birth in Belgium. However, official sports registers and Verstappen himself confirm that he represents the Netherlands, being the first representative of this country in history to win a Formula 1 World Championship title.

Records and the evolution of his racing number

. The peak of Max's dominance came in the 2023 season, when he set an absolute record by winning 19 out of 22 Grands Prix, including 10 consecutive victories. The story of his racing number is also interesting: for a long time, he competed under number 33, having "doubled" the number 3 used by Daniel Ricciardo. After winning his first title in 2021, he gained the privilege of wearing the champion's number 1, a symbol of his definitive establishment in the elite of world motorsport.