Max Verstappen is a Dutch professional racing driver born on September 30, 1997, in Hasselt, Belgium.[2][4] He is widely recognized as one of Formula One's greatest talents and has fundamentally reshaped the sport's record books since his arrival. Verstappen began his racing career at an exceptionally young age, starting karting at just two years old in the family garden before progressing through competitive karting categories across Europe.[1] His father, Jos Verstappen, was a former Formula One driver who served as a significant influence on his early development. In 2013, at age 16, Verstappen made his debut in the Formula Three series, followed by joining the Red Bull Junior Team in 2014.[6] He made history in 2015 when he became the youngest person ever to participate in a Formula One race weekend at just 17 years old, competing for Scuderia Toro Rosso.[2][4] The following year, after his promotion to Red Bull Racing, Verstappen achieved another milestone by winning the Spanish Grand Prix at age 18, becoming the youngest driver ever to win an F1 championship race.[4][6] Verstappen's competitive dominance intensified throughout the 2020s. He secured his maiden world championship in 2021 after an intense battle with Lewis Hamilton, becoming the first World Drivers' Champion from the Netherlands.[2] He subsequently won three consecutive championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024, making him only the fifth driver in Formula One history to achieve four consecutive titles.[1][4] As of 2024, Verstappen holds 69 race victories, 47 pole positions, and 125 career podium finishes across 232 Grand Prix races, accumulating 3,394.5 career points.[3] His aggressive yet calculated racing style, combined with his ability to perform under pressure—particularly demonstrated during the wet-weather São Paulo Grand Prix in 2024—has cemented his status as a transformative figure in modern Formula One.[2]