Happy birthday to the incumbent F1 world champion Max Verstappen! He turns 25 today, and EverythingF1 would like to wish him many happy returns.
Verstappen joined F1 in 2015 after taking part in the FIA Formula 3 that year. He finished the season in third place, recording 10 wins, 7 pole positions and 7 fastest laps. He made his first F1 outing in during the Japanese Grand Prix, where he took part in FP1.
In 2016, during only his second season in F1, Verstappen was promoted to a Red Bull Racing seat in place of Daniil Kvyat, who was demoted to Torro Rosso. His first race for Red Bull came at that years 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, where after both Mercedes crashed out he claimed a sensational first win for Red Bull. He continued to record a race win in every season up to 2021.
2021 saw Max take the fight to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes for both the constructors and the drivers championship. After an intense battle that year, with both drivers heading into the final race tied on points, Max won his first ever world championship on the last lap, overtaking Hamilton after the Brit had stayed out on older tyres behind the safety car.
Verstappen started 2022 in a tight battle with Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, however given the Italian outfits slump in form and Verstappen’s significant increase in form he looks to be set to be crowned world champion for 2022 as well.