The Dutch Grand Prix will mark Max Verstappen’s 200th Formula 1 race at the age of just 26, and the Dutchman made it clear he does not expect to double that figure
Max Verstappen has admitted he may never sign another Formula 1 contract as he eyes up an early retirement.
The Dutchman is only 26 but has buckets of experience given he made his debut in 2015 as the sport’s youngest ever driver. This weekend’s Zandvoort race will be special not only because he will compete in front of his own fans, but also because it is the 200th of Verstappen’s F1 career.
Asked if he has 200 more in the tank, the Red Bull racer made it abundantly clear that he won’t be sticking around for long enough. He immediately replied: “No! Nice and easy.
“We’ve passed halfway [for my F1 career], for sure. It’s been an incredible ride. 200 races, it doesn’t feel like 200. But of course we’re doing a lot of races now in a year so you add them [up] quite quickly.”
Verstappen has packed a lot into the 199 races he has taken part in to date. He has won three championships, 61 races and stood on the podium at the end of more than half of those Grands Prix – the vast majority of that success coming over the last three years.
There is no doubt in the Dutchman’s mind that the most enduring memories are the firsts. He smiled: “Honestly, I think winning your very first race, that is always very emotional because you dream of that when you’re a little kid.
“To be on the podium in F1 and then being on the top step, I think it’s always very special. [Also] winning your first championship, these kind of things, they will always be something incredible that I will look back at after my career.”
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