Abu Dhabi: Being part of the high-octane world of Formula One would be pressure enough for most 18-year-olds, let alone being compared to all-time greats Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
But Max Verstappen is no ordinary teenager, the cheerful and smiling Belgian-Dutch exuding supreme confidence despite being showered with rich plaudits by the likes of former F1 driver David Coulthard.
The Toro Rosso prodigy has amassed a hugely creditable 49 points in his 18 Grand Prix since making his debut at the Australian GP in March to sit 12th in the drivers’ championship — but on Thursday he outlined his skyscraping ambition in the sport.
“Do I want to win the world title one day? For sure, but not only one,” he told Gulf News, in an exclusive interview ahead of this weekend’s Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit.
“You want to win a lot and you want to break records.”
How does he feel about Coulthard’s lofty praise?
“It’s very nice to hear, especially from David or other ex-F1 drivers. But you have to stay with two feet on the ground and focus on the next race, and that’s what I am doing all the time.
“It’s nice that they see something like that and I just want to try and keep it up.”
How does he stay so relaxed?
“I’m born like that. How do I chill out? Go-karting.”
Verstappen went on to quip to other media that he had broken two broken ribs indulging in his favourite pastime, before adding with a chuckle: “No, I’m joking!”
“I like to hang out with my friends, but I like to think I can do that as well as race. Do I like to party?
“No, that wouldn’t be good, I think.”
“I was never thinking about my age,” Verstappen, whose motorsport odyssey began in karting and Formula 3 added. “You always have to believe in yourself. I do the same as I did in F3 and go-karting, even though it’s a bigger car.
“Have I exceeded my expectations? I think a little bit. I have scored more points than I expected. I am very happy with that.”
Verstappen can also count on staunch support from his father Jos, a former driver for teams such as Benetton between 1993 and 2004.
Is his father surprised by his lavishly gifted son’s embryonic success?
“I think a little bit, but every dad is confident in his own son. Of course, he’s very happy about what’s happened. There are a lot of good drivers in F1 and it’s not easy to make your mark.”
Verstappen is three points behind 10th-place Nico Hulkenburg, of Force India, in the standings, but is not focused on supplanting the German.
“For me the top 10, doesn’t really matter. If you’re fighting for the world championship, then you want to be first. “Tenth, 11th or 12th doesn’t make a massive difference to me.”
