The director of many documentaries about Max Verstappen has revealed what surprised him the most about the current Formula One champion.
Verstappen is on target to win his fourth successive world title, matching Sebastian Vettel and Alain Prost while still only 27 years old.
Drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have demonstrated that F1 stars can continue to be successful after their peak years, and Verstappen has a whole decade ahead of him to seek additional championship glory if he so desires.
However, the champion has frequently declared that he does not want to race in F1 forever, and would rather retire earlier than emulate his fellow champions.
Much has been written about Verstappen’s F1 future, with the Dutchman tipped to undergo a huge team switch in 2026 if Red Bull fail to deliver a race winning car.
Few teams on the grid would be capable of turning the champion down, who demonstrated why he is the best of his generation after storming through the field in the wet to take a spectacular Brazilian GP win.
Detailing his relationship with Verstappen, documentary maker Nick Hoedeman told Motorsport.com: “We have a relationship that is based on trust and when I’m around he can speak freely.”
“He’s quite open-minded.” According to Hoedeman, with Verstappen, it is not his race-winning capabilities that define the champion, instead revealing what shocked him the most about the racing star having developed a unique insight into his personality through their work together.
“The most surprising thing about Max is that he’s just a normal boy,” Hoedeman admitted.
“Everybody thinks he has the most extravagant life but he just likes being at home with his family and friends.
“Of course, he’s in a private jet travelling the world, but deep down inside, he’s still that five-year-old boy who just loves to be in a racing car.
“This insight into what makes Verstappen tick could further suggest his future will take him wherever he is allowed to race freely for enjoyment rather than having to adhere to rules and team politics that the Red Bull star has become so accustomed to in F1.”
