The young Belgian F4 prodigy Dries van Langendonck, aged 15, has joined the Verstappen Racing structure, while retaining his place within the McLaren Driver Development Programme. Promising!
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Thanks to this partnership, the Belgian driver will continue to benefit from McLaren’s support, while enjoying the backing of Max Verstappen and his management team in his progression through the feeder categories towards Formula 1.
Having joined McLaren’s development programme in July 2024, Van Langendonck quickly made a mark after a brilliant karting career, during which he won seven titles.
An impressive journey
He made his Formula 4 debut with Rodin Motorsport during the last three rounds of the 2025 British championship. From his first weekend, the Belgian impressed by securing pole position and then victory. His progress continued this year with another title in the Formula Winter Series, where he won nine of the fifteen races held.
Midway through the 2026 British Formula 4 championship, Van Langendonck also leads the standings after securing a double win at the Zandvoort circuit. His performances have quickly earned him a solid reputation as a fast and consistent driver, making him one of the most promising young talents of his generation.
“Verstappen Racing provides me with the necessary support to take a new step in my career and represents an important step towards my ultimate goal, which is Formula 1,” said the young Belgian. “Being able to learn from a driver as experienced as Max and benefit from the support of his professional management team, in addition to that of McLaren Racing, is simply incredible. I will continue to give my all to maximize my performance while doing what I love most: racing.”
Formula 1 goal
Max Verstappen himself has also shown great enthusiasm about his new protégé, who shares with him the same hometown of Hasselt, in Limburg: “I am impressed by the progress Dries has made throughout his young career and by the talent he demonstrated in karting and during his first steps in single-seaters.”
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The four-time world champion believes the young Belgian has all the qualities needed to reach the highest level: “After getting to know him and his family, I am convinced he has all the ingredients to become a great driver in the future. My management team and I, with the support of the Verstappen Racing Pro Simulation simulator, will help him achieve his ultimate goal: F1.”
The partnership between van Langendonck, McLaren, and Verstappen Racing may seem unusual, but it is not unprecedented in Formula 1. In recent years, Gabriel Bortoleto belonged to McLaren’s young driver programme while being represented by A14 Management, Fernando Alonso’s structure, before signing with Audi. A situation that already showed that a young driver could simultaneously benefit from the support of a team and the management of a top driver.
A growing structure
Van Langendonck’s case is, however, unprecedented for Max Verstappen, who is taking a new step in the development of his Verstappen Racing project. Until now, this structure was mainly dedicated to e-sports and GT racing.
It notably includes Verstappen’s simulator team, driver Chris Lulham, who successfully transitioned from sim racing to GT3, Thierry Vermeulen, a DTM driver and son of Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen, as well as Jos Verstappen, whose rally activities are also integrated into the project.
This collaboration marks an important milestone in van Langendonck’s career, who can count on the support of two major motorsport structures. While continuing his development under McLaren’s colors, the young Belgian will also be able to benefit from the experience and advice of the four-time world champion to accelerate his progression towards the top category.
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