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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Giles Richards at Suzuka

‘Max didn’t do anything wrong’: how Suzuka gave Verstappen a launchpad

Max Verstappen, the boy who would be F1 king, tries the Toro Rosso for size at Suzuka in 2014.
Max Verstappen, the boy who would be F1 king, tries the Toro Rosso for size at Suzuka in 2014. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Incongruous as it is to equate with his still-boyish looks, at 25 years old Max Verstappen is very much the grizzled Formula One veteran. Eight years into his career the Dutchman is race-hardened but to an extent still a kid in a sweet shop. Right place, right time and a fistful of sherbet lemons in the form of the car, his Red Bull team and a natural talent.

Verstappen still bears himself with an enthusiastic, youthful demeanour, as right he might. With a second title within his grasp at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, he is delivering on the promise shown at his F1 debut at Suzuka when he was 17.

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