Max Verstappen has revealed the key decisions his parents made that prevented him from racing from an early age.
The Dutchman is the youngest winner of a Formula 1 Grand Prix, taking part in a practice session at just 16 years old.
It’s almost impossible to imagine a 16-year-old driving today’s F1 car, but Verstappen’s talent was so rare – he did it.
It worked, and he is now a three-time world champion at just 26 years old, surpassed only by 25-year-old Sebastian Vettel.
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Verstappen was held back by his father
According to Verstappen himself, he was not “forced” into motorsport, but was held back by his father, Jos Verstappen, who tried to keep him off the track until he was six years old.
“That’s a good story!” Verstappen told M4 Sport.
“I saw kids younger than me driving at the time. He was 3 and I was 4. My dad was racing, so I was at the track with my mom. I told her I wanted to ride go-karts too.
“She called her dad, but he said no and asked her to wait until she was 6 years old. But I didn’t budge, and after six months, my mom finally convinced my dad to let me go in a go-kart. He bought it for me.
“I think it’s very important that parents don’t impose anything. In general, it’s good for kids to play sports, but it’s up to them to choose what they want to do.
“That’s what happened to me. If the parent’s will takes precedence, the child may not enjoy it and may not fully appreciate what he or she is doing professionally.”
If young Verstappen had been allowed to race earlier, he might even have burst onto the F1 scene sooner than expected.
For Red Bull, he could be one of their best investments ever as he continues to dominate the sport and take the grid by storm.
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