![]() The season looks set to be an interesting one: following the recent retire ment of Germany’s Nico Rosberg, it is the first season since 1994 in which the reign ing drivers’ champion is not competing. “They are very pas sionate fans.” Having taken fifth place in last month’s Australian Grand Prix, the 2017 Formula One season has got off to a solid start for Verstappen. ![]() “I’m very happy to represent my country,” enthuses Verstappen. The Spain win was not only significant in terms of Verstappen’s age it also repre sented the first time a driver racing un der the Dutch flag had won at a Grand Prix and further contributed to his hero status in the Netherlands, where he was crowned 2016 Sportsman of the Year. Commentators were as tonished by Verstappen’s composed drive at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which was even more impressive given the fact that he had only recently made the switch from Toro Rosso to his current team Red Bull Racing. His age may seem insignificant to him, but Verstappen has a place in the Guinness World Records 2017 Edition book thanks to his win at the Spanish Grand Prix in Montmeló last May, where he became the youngest driver to win a Formula One World Championship race – aged just 18 years and 228 days. For me, it doesn’t really matter,” he explains. At the end of day, I never really think about my age. How did Verstappen cope with such responsibility aged only 17? “Everything has gone really fast in my life. It was the first time someone so young had lined up on a For mula One grid. After just one season in single-seaters, Red Bull shocked the For- mula One paddock by placing Verstap- pen with Italian Formula One racing team Toro Rosso in 2015. “Of course, he’s very proud of me, as I think any father would be.” Indeed Verstappen has plenty to be pleased with. If I have any questions, if I need advice, I can always go to him,” he says. ![]() Verstappen continues to look up to his Dutch father, who is always on hand to offer support and mentoring. “I was always like, ‘wow, I’ll try to do the same ’,” recalls Verstappen. It was around this time that the youngster became serious about follow ing in his father’s footsteps. In 2005, he became Belgian Champion in the Mini Category of the Belgian Karting Champi onships. Aged just four, Verstappen received his first kart and only a few years later he was driving his first kart races. ![]()
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