How Verstappen's trials took him to a new level
Precious few drivers have ever ignited Formula 1's spark from their very first race as has Max Verstappen. And as Stuart Codling explains, Red Bull's charger is all set for an electrifying 2018.
Motorsport.com's Prime content
The best content from Motorsport.com Prime, our subscription service. Subscribe here to get access to all the features.
Until Max Verstappen bossed the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, it had become increasingly - and bizarrely - fashionable in some corners of the Formula 1 paddock and internet fandom to write Max off as an over-rated, overly impetuous danger to himself and others, a wunderkind whose mojo was crumbling under the pressure of sustaining the expectations thrust on him by his rapid promotion to a top-line drive before the age of 20.
And, like all crank theories, this narrative gained momentum with each new event that appeared to confirm it - the start-line shunt at Singapore, for instance, when Max's Red Bull was collateral in a contact triggered by Sebastian Vettel, and yet Max was pilloried simply for being there.
Share Or Save This Story
Long Beach IMSA: Bourdais spins then tops FP2 for Cadillac
Latvala: Neuville, Evans tied for WRC Croatia lead "something special"
Streets of Long Beach receive changes ahead of the IMSA, IndyCar doubleheader
The Chinese Grand Prix's Chaotic Return and Cloudy Future
The short-term pain that hides a very real Williams improvement
How a Shanghai to Sheffield journey paved the way for China’s F1 hero
Why F1 2026 worst-case fears could be key to new rules success
How the F1 driver market situation sits for each team with 2025 openings
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
