Expected F1 World Champion Candidate Long Before Active Racing, Verstappen Realizes Dream

Max Verstappen (Twitter @Max33Verstappen)

JAKARTA - Max Verstappen was predicted as a potential Formula 1 world champion long before he entered the sport of racing. At the age of 17 for the first time he made his debut as a rookie in 2015.

On Sunday in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen made his dream come true with a dramatic victory.

Now 24 years old, the Dutchman, backed by thousands of orange-hued fans, overtook seven-times world champion Mercedes Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season-ending race at Yas Marina.

"Max Verstappen, you are the world champion. The world champion," shouted Red Bull team boss Christian Horner over the radio as Verstappen burst into tears of joy after crossing the finish line, quoted from Antara.

Thank you everyone at @redbullracing and at @hondaracingf1 for an amazing car, you guys were amazing once again. @SChecoPerez, you were an animal today💪To all my family and friends-thank you so much for all your support over the years. Couldn't have done it without you!(2/3) pic.twitter.com/wD2sFWkvpA

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 12, 2021

"You've been racing like a champion all year. You deserve it. You made it happen and we love you so much."

The win seemed to usher in a new era in F1, although the 36-year-old Hamilton will no doubt reclaim the lost title next year as the two rivals sportively embraced before taking to the podium.

"This is crazy, I'm so happy," Verstappen said.

"My goal when I was a kid was to be an F1 driver and hope to win, hope to be on the podium, when they play your anthem, hope they play your anthem.

"And when they stand there and they say you're world champion, it's something incredible. All the things that come to mind, all the years of traveling for that purpose."

Being the first Dutchman to become world champion, despite being born in Belgium, Verstappen is very determined to win the title this season and has given Hamilton a meaningful fight for the first time from outside his team.

Verstappen was born a racer, has been in the sport since infancy, when his father Jos raced in F1, and was soon behind the wheel once he could walk.

!!!!This is just unbelievable. I started racing with my dad many years ago. We dreamed of becoming a World Champion and now we are. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/sQ3WBEjWZ6

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) December 12, 2021

Jos was twice on the podium for Benetton in 1994 as Michael Schumacher's teammate at the time, and their family often vacationed together, but he retired without coming close to success.

Max's mother, Sophie Kumpen, was an accomplished karting racer, who became the opponent of then-future F1 world champion Jenson Button.

Verstappen set F1 records as the youngest driver to score points and win a race (at the age of 18) and is the only driver outside of the Mercedes team that won the world title since Sebastian Vettel triumphed with Red Bull in 2013.

Hamilton also saw the threat long ago.

"There's always someone waiting to take my place. I found Max there waiting to take it," Hamilton said in 2017 as he secured his fourth title.

While the two rivals have had some of the fiercest rivalries in recent years, one of them has become the greatest driver of all time, they have a lot of differences.

Hamilton is involved in fashion, music and uses his platform as champion and the only black rider in the paddock to promote racial equality and diversity.

Verstappen meanwhile had less to do.

"Favorite hobby? That's a difficult question. Besides F1, I often do virtual racing. I think it's a hobby," said Verstappen at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

"But I'm not really into it either."

Verstappen is also a racer who often goes too far.

Hamilton said in Jeddah that Verstappen raced as if the rules didn't apply to him, but Horner said that was not the case.

"Max races like Tyson Fury fights. He's kind of like that," said the Red Bull team boss.

"You know he will give everything and if you knock him down he will get up. He has that burning passion, that commitment to go all out."