Image source: Instagram/@maxverstappen1
Max Verstappen is gearing up for a landmark moment in his career: his 200th Formula One race. The event will take place this Sunday in front of his home crowd in the Netherlands. At just 26 years old, Verstappen is achieving this milestone with impressive speed, but he’s not thinking about reaching 400 races.
When asked about the possibility of hitting 400 races, Max Verstappen was straightforward. “No,” he said flatly. Despite the longevity of drivers like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen remains focused on the present.
“Nice and easy. “Clearly, we’ve definitely passed the halfway point,” he added. His Red Bull contract is set to last until 2028, allowing him plenty of time to add to his record.
Verstappen made his F1 debut in 2015 as the youngest driver ever, at 17 years and 166 days. He also became the youngest race winner in 2016, just 18 years and 228 days old.
He holds records as the youngest points scorer, podium finisher, and now, the youngest to hit 200 races. Reflecting on his journey, Verstappen noted, “It’s been an incredible ride. 200 races, it doesn’t feel like that many, but with the packed schedule, you hit them quickly.”
This season features a record 24 races, far more than the schedule from a decade ago. Max Verstappen is keen to see how the new regulations, set to roll out in 2026, will impact the sport. He’s keeping his future plans open and is cautious about making predictions.
Looking back, Max Verstappen highlighted his first victory with Red Bull in Spain and his inaugural championship win in Abu Dhabi in 2021 as standout moments. The latter was particularly notable due to the contentious late change in safety car procedures, which shifted the championship from Lewis Hamilton to Verstappen.
At Zandvoort, Verstappen has a perfect record, having won all three races held there since 2021. However, he’s not taking victory for granted this weekend. Mercedes has triumphed in three of the last four races, and McLaren might have a faster car. Red Bull is on a four-race losing streak.
“I’m not saying we’re going to win,” Verstappen admitted. “I just want to have a clean weekend, understand the car better, and learn from it.” He mentioned that the team has been analyzing data during the break and will attempt new strategies. “We’ll see how it goes over the weekend,” he concluded.
As Verstappen approaches this significant career milestone, the anticipation builds. Fans and critics alike are eager to see how he will perform in this pivotal race.
