Before the titles and glory, Max Verstappen had much more modest beginnings. His manager reveals a scene as surprising as it is amusing.
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Today a global superstar, Max Verstappen has not always evolved in the comfort associated with Formula 1. Before his full-time arrival in 2015, the Dutchman took his first steps in the discipline with very limited means.
In 2014, while he was competing in his first free practice sessions with Toro Rosso, the reality was very different from today’s. Between travel, logistics and accommodation, every expense counted.
A weekend in Brazil… in DIY mode
The anecdote, told by his manager Raymond Vermeulen, dates back to the 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix. At that time, the budget of Verstappen’s entourage was simply exhausted.
“We had no budget left, so we took a single hotel room for the three of us in São Paulo,” he explains. A situation far from the usual F1 standards.
The most unusual detail? The sleeping arrangements reserved for the young driver. “A baby bed had been installed for Max, a kind of stretcher,” recounts Vermeulen, amused by the memory.
A restless night before hitting the track
At just 17, Verstappen still had to perform on track the next day. But the night before his session did not go under the best conditions.
While the young driver went to bed early to prepare for his day, his father Jos Verstappen and his manager enjoyed a night out in town. Their late return to the hotel somewhat disturbed his sleep.
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“He was already in bed, while Jos and I had gone out for a drink. When we came back, we probably made a little too much noise,” Vermeulen remembers.
Woken up in the middle of the night, Max did not hesitate to remind them of the rules: “Dad, can you make less noise? I have to drive tomorrow,” he reportedly said.
A typical response… and a family atmosphere
His father’s reaction was not long in coming, in a style well known in the paddock. “Stop complaining, everything will be fine,” Jos Verstappen reportedly replied.
Beyond the amusing side, this anecdote illustrates the state of mind that prevailed at the time around the future world champion. A family adventure, made of resourcefulness, complicity and simple moments.
“It shows how we operated. We counted on each other and had a lot of fun,” concludes Vermeulen.
From resourcefulness to the heights of F1
This story contrasts sharply with Verstappen’s current career, now a four-time world champion and dominant figure in the discipline. It especially reminds us that even the greatest have had modest beginnings.
Between a “baby bed” in São Paulo and the heights of Formula 1, the Dutchman’s journey perfectly illustrates the meteoric rise of an undeniable talent.
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