Max Verstappen: The Unstoppable Force in Formula One

A fully illustrated biography of Max Verstappen from his early days karting with fellow Dutch karter Nick de Vries (who's finally joined him on the grid) to his crushing third World title at the end of 2023.

It's not a typical journey. Max's parents are both motorsport talents. He was born in Belgium to mum Sophie Kumpen, a champion Belgian karter, while dad Jos Verstappen was Benetton team-mate to Michael Schumacher and survived perhaps the scariest F1 pitane fire when his car caught fire during a refueling stop. Michael Schumacher and Jos Verstappen became great friends and Max grew up going on family holidays with fellow F1 star Mick Schumacher. The contrast in fortunes between the two sons could hardly be greater.

Verstappen broke all the records for youngest driver after he made his debut in 2015, including youngest driver to win an F1 race after he transferred from Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso, to Red Bull in 2016. His move was at the expense of Daniil Kvyat who was demoted to Toro Rosso. Verstappen then started dating Kvyat's girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, and is now step-father to Kvyat's son. Complicated.

This fully illustrated biography features his formative years through to the end of the 2023 season, interspersed with 10 key races, to include:

• His debut F1 race for Toro Ross
• His wholly unexpected win on debut for the Red Bull team in 2016, the Spanish GP where Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg took themselves out on the opening lap.
• The 2021 British GP at Silverstone where he survived a 56G deceleration as he hit the barriers at Copse corner
• His titanic showdown in Abu Dhabi where he won his first controversial World Championship
• His second World Championship win in 2022

Though things are going well right now, the volatility that led him to a physical altercation with Esteban Ocon in the 2020 Brazilian Grand prix still appears from time to time when things don't go his way. And soon Red Bull want a team-mate who can really push him...