"The whole family only had it for the race, so I think the person Max is, and what he is doing at the moment, is the natural result", sums up his manager Raymond Vermeulen for AFP .

Vermeulen knows what he is talking about: he was already associated with the father, the Dutchman Jos Verstappen, 107 Grands Prix on the clock between 1994 and 2003, including two podiums in the first year.

Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Toro Rosoo) and his father, Jos, a former Formula 1 driver, arrive at the Suzuka circuit on October 2, 2014, three days before the Japanese Grand Prix TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA AFP / Archives

His mother, Sophie Kumpen, was the teammate of F1 world champion Jenson Button in karting: the Belgian "was a fantastic driver (...) very fast", the Briton recalled for the F1 podcast .

No wonder, therefore, that Max - "always ahead of his time", according to his manager - has become the youngest driver to take the start of a GP in 2015, at 17 years, 5 months and 15 days. , under the colors of Toro Rosso.

Then the youngest winner in Spain in 2016, at 18 years, 7 months and 15 days, for his first at Red Bull.

Dutch driver Max Verstappen rejoices after winning his first Formula 1 victory at the wheel of his Red Bull, during the Spanish Grand Prix, May 15, 2016 at the Catalunya circuit in Montmelo JOSEP LAGO AFP / Archives

"Headbutt"

But the precocity records stop there.

By being crowned this Sunday in Abu Dhabi, the Dutchman, born in Belgium on September 30, 1997 and residing for a long time in Monaco, is only the fourth youngest driver to win a world champion title at 24 years, 2 months and 12 days, behind Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

More surprisingly, of the 33 previous world champions in F1, only three had more GPs than Max's 140 before being crowned: Jenson Button (169), Nigel Mansell (176) and Nico Rosberg (206) .

Dutchman Max Verstappen, new AFP Formula 1 world champion

However, we can not say that he wasted his time: this season is the first in which his team has placed in its hands a single-seater capable of competing with the Mercedes of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

A surly teenager in his early days, the brash Max has learned to control his temper on the track and has shown a more thoughtful and - when he wants to - likeable side of his personality since last year.

Far from the one who clung unnecessarily with Esteban Ocon in Brazil in 2018, before jostling the French in front of the cameras, or who threatened to "kick ass" if the media continued to question him about his mistakes, in Canada the same year.

It must be said that the Dutchman went to a good school: his father Jos was never the most placid man in the paddock.

"Maturity"

"Mad Max" rounded corners to become the leader of a team, Red Bull, which swears by him.

"He has simply matured," explained his boss Christian Horner last year.

A maturity that was reflected in its results, with two third places in the Championship in 2019 and 2020, which was the best possible result behind the untouchable Mercedes.

The joy of Max Verstappen and the boss of the Red Bull team, Christian Horner, after the victory of the Dutch driver in the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, which thus takes down his 1st world title of the p, on December 12, 2021, in front of the Seven-time world champion, Briton Lewis Hamilton ANDREJ ISAKOVIC POOL / AFP

Still true to some of his habits, Verstappen hardly dwelled on the subject last year.

"I think you grow every year. You progress but you also get to know your team better. And we have always had a good relationship," he replied to AFP.

Before conceding, all the same, in a small laugh: "I can have this serious air or something like that, but I can be funny, I hope!"

Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of seven-time world champion, Briton Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), and thus wins his first world title on December 12, 2021 KAMRAN JEBREILI POOL / AFP

Even if it means pouring into excess.

For example by answering the question "what was your best buy?"

by "my girlfriend": Kelly Piquet, daughter of three-time Brazilian F1 world champion Nelson Piquet, with whom he regularly appears on the paddocks and on social networks.

© 2021 AFP