Max the Belgian

Unusual : Here are the drivers (picture above) who represented Belgium at the 1991 Karting World Championship held in Le Mans: from left to right: Jos Verstappen, Sophie Kumpen – the futur parents of Max Verstappen – Bas Leinders, Kurt Mollekens and Geoffroy Horion.

Max Emilian Verstappen, born 30 September 1997, is a Dutch-Belgian racing driver and the 2021 and 2022 Formula One World Champion. He has now equalled the great Ayrton Senna with 41 Grand Prix victories and is the favourite for the 2023 title.

Born in Hasselt (Belgium) and raised in Maaseik (always… Belgium), Verstappen is the son of racing drivers Jos Verstappen, who also competed in Formula One (2 podiums) and Sophie Kumpen, a very competent Belgian karting driver.

Although Max Verstappen has a Belgian mother, was born and raised in Belgium, he decided to compete with a Dutch racing licence because he “feels more Dutch”. He added: “I was raised as a Dutch person and that’s how I feel, but I appreciate being half-half at the end of the day.” No luck for the Belgians then, although some were clearly at first confused! (picture below).