Max

The Dutch Master

The unauthorised biography of Max Verstappen

By André Hoogeboom

Max Verstappen is Formula 1’s sensational new superstar. Born into motorsport, Max started karting aged four and in 2015 became the youngest driver ever to race in F1, less than six months after his 17th birthday. Following his first Grand Prix victory in 2016, he quickly established himself as a future World Champion and by 2021 his goal was in sight. Like a true Dutch Master, he has brought fresh artistry into F1 and made this most glamorous of sports even more exciting. This unauthorised biography, written by a leading Dutch F1 journalist, examines Max’s remarkable rise to worldwide fame, covering every step of his career in detail as well providing insights into his spirited character and supreme talent.

• Early days: nurtured by racing driver father Jos, Max had a long apprenticeship in karting, from a first title in Belgium in 2006 to the climax in 2013 as World KZ Champion in the top KZ1 category.
• Rapid single-seater gestation: only 12 months elapsed between his first single-seater experience, a Formula Renault evaluation at Pembrey in South Wales, and his F1 test-driving role with Scuderia Toro Rosso (Red Bull’s junior team) in 2014.
• The fairytale begins: after débuting in Australia, his full F1 season with Toro Rosso in 2015 brought ten points-scoring finishes — and much acclaim.
• Transfer to Red Bull: Max was elevated to the ‘senior’ team for the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix — and almost miraculously became F1’s youngest ever winner first time out.
• F1 consolidation: ever-growing maturity in each of the next three seasons brought seven more F1 victories, culminating in Honda-powered 2019 delivering third place in the championship standings.
• The championship beckons: following pandemic-afflicted 2020, Max soon emerged as championship favourite in 2021, intent on toppling Lewis Hamilton from his throne.
• Expert assessments: insights from three-time World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart and leading journalists Peter Windsor and Will Buxton.
  
  

• Publication date: 30 March 2022

• ISBN: 978-1-910505-75-5

• Format: 234x156mm hardback

• Page extent: 320

• Illustration: 110 photos

“Beautifully written, beautifully put together.”
Peter Windsor

“André Hoogeboom not only knows his stuff but, unlike some Max writers, knows the Verstappens, too. Plus many of the people who accompanied them on the journey. He writes extremely well, and has keen insight and an ability to dig out stories… as a tale of how one family set their goals — regarding losing as unacceptable — and reached them through hard work, dedication, absolute determination, tough love and an almost ruthless application, it’s an enlightening, inspiring and enthralling read. And, if you want to get a great deal more insight into one the fastest men in racing, at £25 it’s a steal.”
GrandPrix+ (David Tremayne)

“Well-written and superbly researched, and packed with quotes from the great and the good in the top tier of racing.”
Octane

“The book’s at its best exploring Verstappen’s pre-F1 days, which account for about half of its pages.”
Motorsport News

“Hoogeboom excels when recapping the very early days for Verstappen, as Max criss-crossed Europe with his father Jos to dominate the karting scene.”
Autosport

“This biography is well researched and written. It’s loaded with interviews from people close to him and his family. It makes an interesting telling of the Max story in the words of people who know him well. It’s also nicely broken up with period snaps.”
Auto Express

“Hoogeboom does a fine job in covering the key incidents, pivotal moments, and getting behind-the-scenes… For the Verstappen fan there is much to enjoy.”
racefans.net

“The fact that this book only starts to talk about Verstappen’s F1 career halfway through reflects Hoogeboom’s unexpected approach to the book… it was fascinating to read of the thriving Dutch and Belgian scene, starring characters like former F1 driver Huub Rothengatter, Kees van der Grint, Paul Lemmers and Frits van Amersfoort, who ran Max’s 2014 Formula 3 campaign… Hoogeboom writes with insight and style, and his obvious bias can be forgiven as being part of the massive feel-good effect Max has had on Dutch identity and self-esteem. The standard of translation from the original Dutch is perfect, and the book reads more fluently than several F1 biographies I’ve endured in recent years. The book is what we’ve come to expect from Evro — a robust, well-designed, and excellently illustrated hardback.”
speedreaders.info (John Aston)

“Documented with vividity.”
refereads.com

“Interesting reading…”
Practical Classics

“Verstappen fans will love this book…”
the-race.com