I'M NOT HERE TO BE SECOND
YOU South Africa|6 July 2023
Focused, ambitious and oozing attitude, Max Verstappen is on course to becoming one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time
NASIFA SULAIMAN
I'M NOT HERE TO BE SECOND

HE’S the wunderkind with the bad attitude – a driver with nerves of steel who’s rewriting the record books almost as rapidly as he races towards the chequered flag.

At just 25, Max Verstappen is already a two-time Formula 1 world champion. And with him leading the 2023 driver standings with 195 points, he’s the prime candidate for a third consecutive crown.

He’s been on the winner’s podium six times in eight races this season, his recent win in Canada making it victory No 41 for the Dutch- Belgian speed machine – equalling the number of wins clocked up by Brazilian champ Ayrton Senna.

Only Lewis Hamilton with 103 victories, Michael Schumacher with 91, Sebastian Vettel with 53 and Alain Prost with 51 have won more races than Max and he’s only just getting started.

The win in Canada also gave team Red Bull Racing it’s 100th victory. “To get a century of victories for the whole team is an incredible achievement,” said team chief Christian Horner. “Max has been just sensational. He really is driving out of his skin.”

Yet along with the praise has come criticism for a bad temper and off-track attitude that have led to some calling him “Mad Max”.

Earlier this year former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg laid into Verstappen for his “weak” response to teammate Sergio “Checo” Pérez’s win in Saudi Arabia. Verstappen came second and he “was not happy”. “I’m not here to be second.” He was reportedly in such a strop he skipped the team meeting.

It’s bad sportsmanship, Rosberg says.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOU SOUTH AFRICAView all
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ mins  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024