If you look at a driver and his growth in Formula 1, it is usually easy to see who is responsible for the championship. Whether Lewis Hamilton, Ayrton Senna or even Sebastian Vettel, the size is often evident early in their karting career. It’s no surprise the same can be said for Formula 1 youngest champion Max Verstappen.
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What is surprising, however, is that Mercedes was the first to recognize this ability.
In a recent Dutch documentary about the driver, his father Jos Verstappen described the conversations that Verstappen had with Mercedes in Formula 3. “Niki Lauda wanted to bring Max to Mercedes. I remember that as soon as we left the Red Bull Camper after a meeting, we found it in front of us. ”
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Formula 1 F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 12, 2021 Max Verstappen from Red Bull celebrates victory and the REUTERS / Hamad I Mohammed world championship with team principal Christian Horner
But Christian Horner had found his next Golden Boy in the driver and was therefore the one who had finally convinced Max to find his future at Red Bull.
Verstappen will remain the youngest driver in Formula 1, starting his career at the age of 17. That was the talent of the young Dutchman, who dealt with the big names at an early age. Helmut Marko revealed what attracts Red Bull about Verstappen.
“Max was fifteen years old when we talked to, but my main conclusion was that there is a very young body there, but someone whose mind is at least three to five years further. He struck me as even more mature than many eighteen-year-olds. “
How Red Bull kept Max Verstappen away from Mercedes
Marko is known for his keen eye for talent. In his opinion, watching Max drive in F3 at the age of 15 was a defining moment for the team. “The Formula 3 races at the Norisring were decisive … I saw someone who was mentally and physically ready for Formula 1 and that immediately. His age was just a minor matter. “
Verstappen’s F3 career has been exceptional. He left the series with ten wins and became a topic of conversation in the driver market in 2014. Therefore, Mercedes was keeping an eye on Verstappen.
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Marko revealed why this deal failed. “Max would certainly not have entered Formula 1 so quickly at Mercedes. They weren’t ready to take a lot of risks with a new signing and we were. Since then, Verstappen has been unstoppable.
Red Bull’s move, however, was not to outperform their rivals. Instead, it was a step of security. Marko said: “That was mainly because I was one hundred percent convinced that Max is ready for Formula 1.”
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Milton Keynes had its star player, a wild Dutch lion, in his monocoque. Will Mercedes look back on the missed opportunity? Probably not; but Verstappen’s roar remains loud enough to remind them of what they might have had. Until then, Red Bull Racing will be celebrating.
Check out this story: Top 5 victories of Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 career
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