I'M NOT HERE TO BE SECOND

Focused, ambitious and oozing attitude, Max Verstappen is on course to becoming one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time

- NASIFA SULAIMAN

HE’S the wunderkind with the bad attitude – a driver with nerves of steel who’s rewriting the record books almost as rapidly as he races towards the chequered flag.

At just 25, Max Verstappen is already a two-time Formula 1 world champion. And with him leading the 2023 driver standings with 195 points, he’s the prime candidate for a third consecutive crown.

He’s been on the winner’s podium six times in eight races this season, his recent win in Canada making it victory No 41 for the Dutch- Belgian speed machine – equalling the number of wins clocked up by Brazilian champ Ayrton Senna.

Only Lewis Hamilton with 103 victories, Michael Schumacher with 91, Sebastian Vettel with 53 and Alain Prost with 51 have won more races than Max and he’s only just getting started.

The win in Canada also gave team Red Bull Racing it’s 100th victory. “To get a century of victories for the whole team is an incredible achievement,” said team chief Christian Horner. “Max has been just sensational. He really is driving out of his skin.”

Yet along with the praise has come criticism for a bad temper and off-track attitude that have led to some calling him “Mad Max”.

Earlier this year former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg laid into Verstappen for his “weak” response to teammate Sergio “Checo” Pérez’s win in Saudi Arabia. Verstappen came second and he “was not happy”. “I’m not here to be second.” He was reportedly in such a strop he skipped the team meeting.

It’s bad sportsmanship, Rosberg says.