Max Verstappen

Octane meets the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, and finds out what it takes to achieve that status four seasons in a row

- Wayne Batty

WHILE ON THE motorway bound for Silverstone and a meeting with reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, one thought takes hold. An opportunity like this is rare for me, yet for him it's just part of the endless round of interviews before a British Grand Prix. Removed from opinions so easily formed via memes, YouTube highlights, often-biased television commentary and Netflix, I wonder what he will be like in person. Dismissive? Surely he is too professional for that. Disinterested and bored? Possibly; I'm 100% sure he'd rather be doing something else. The words of Dr Alfred Lanning from 2004's I, Robot come to mind: 'My responses are limited. You must ask the right questions.'

Just who is this Dutch trackmaster, and how did he reach such heights when so many other child prodigies either burn out in the pressure cooker of success, fail to reach their full potential, or fall out with everyone including the very people who aided their rapid rise? A little insight into Verstappen’s upbringing suggests that the potential for any one of those scenarios playing out is high. And yet he is a four-time Formula 1 World Champion who appears well-adjusted and (these days) well in control.

Max Emillian Verstappen, the first of two children born to former F1 driver Johannes ‘Jos’ Verstappen and former karting ace Sophie Kumpen, was driving karts at four years old and winning races at seven. National and European championships followed in-between his parents’ initially messy separation and eventual divorce - those close to the family say they're on much better terms now. In the split, Max’s sister, Victoria, stayed with her mother while Max lived with his father, 30km away. As he'd be karting for a few hours nearly every day after school and the two were regularly travelling to races across Europe, it just made sense.