PROJECT VERSTAPPEN - YOU CAN HAVE A F1 WORLD CHAMPION… AT HOME

Might seem a little bit crazy, huh? You might say that it's impossible to get one of your childs into Formula 1 - an aristocratic sport where there are just two drivers not from wealthy families. However, let me introduce you to the idea of for a long time unknown former Formula 1 Jos Verstappen who created a monster named Max Verstappen.

Recently came out a book called "Max: The Dutch Master" from the dutch writer André Hoogeboom who met a couple of people who knew Max from his early ages. The people there describe how Max was able to become the TOP 1 in the whole world and how his father - former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, also a former teammate of mighty Michael Schumacher - created a plan called "Project Verstappen". Jos wasn't as successful as he wanted to be in Formula 1 so he set one of the toughest possible goals to gain such fame there. He would raise his son as a future world champion.

One of the keys of success was to get his son into karting from a very young age. Jos had his own experience and gave Max the right direction. And Max had the potential. After they found out that little Max Verstappen is super talented, he started expanding his talent further and attending the races all across Europe. Both father and son were avid fans of this kind of racing and both of them also wanted more. Max was almost always racing against older boys - nonetheless even against them he could win by a margin of a seconds. If he didn't do anything stupid, of course. Well, once when he unsuccessfully tried to overtake one of his opponents and crashed into him instead, his father left him at the gas station. These were cruel times for young Max because around that time, his parents divorced for several reasons.

It's crucial to say that Max always learned from his mistakes at karting to become strong, faster and braver. Till today, he holds records in Formula 1 for youngest driver ever to race in the pinnacle of motorsports (he was only 17 years old - I'm writing this when I'm 17 years old), youngest driver ever to win a Grand Prix (18 years and 227 days old), most consecutive wins in a row (10 in the 2023 season), most wins in a single season (19 in 2023) and last but not least also 3 World Driver's Championships, which is not a record, this one hold Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton (both have 7 titles), nevertheless Max is still young - 26 years old and imagine what he might reach in the future if there are guys as Fernando Alonso racing at the age of 43…

But let's say it clearly - what does it mean if anyone can have a champion in, in fact, anything at home? If you treat your children like a future champion, which includes building strong mentality, fast reflexes, tremendous body strength, learning how to recover properly and much more, they have a much bigger chance to reach their potential. I know, in terms of Formula 1, this might seem impossible. First of all you have to have the potential, because there is a massive difference between good drivers and great drivers. Then you need to find sponsors, who from the beginning will be your parents and they are going to spend a tons of money on you just for a "little hobby". And then it's "actually easy" - you need to beat them all and win. But to be honest -  it is not just about Formula 1, you can apply this method in anything! 

Jakub Ondruš 

edited by AM

Sources: 

`https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/03/max-the-dutch-master-verstappen-biography-reviewed/</p>

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/1013692/f1-max-verstappen-red-bull-rb20-verdict-driving-debut/<br>

https://x.com/dirkvangaal/status/1435138940110098436<br>