Max Verstappen urges young drivers to look beyond Formula 1
Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen wants up-and-coming racers to keep their options open instead of fixating solely on F1.
“With endurance racing, there are a lot of opportunities to have a good career,” Verstappen explained during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
The Red Bull Racing star believes too many young talents limit themselves by focusing exclusively on reaching Formula 1.
“If your mindset is set on Formula 1 and you do not want to change that perception, then you can feel like you’re talking to a wall,” he said.
Verstappen knows firsthand how tough breaking into F1 can be.
“Sometimes, some of the drivers that I’m close to, they all dream of Formula 1, but I also always advise them to keep their options open just in case it doesn’t work out,” he explained. “Not everyone always gets the opportunity, even though you might be good enough.”
The Dutch champion practices what he preaches. Just after winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he jumped into a Ferrari 296 GT3 car for Emil Frey Racing at the Nurburgring NLS race.
He won that race too.
## Finding joy beyond F1
Verstappen understands why drivers fixate on Formula 1 but worries about the tunnel vision.
“Staring blindly at Formula 1 only sometimes can be a danger as well,” he warned.
He acknowledges changing perspectives isn’t easy. “I know that a lot of drivers dream of being here. It’s not easy to give up that dream,” he said.
But he’s seen what happens when racers finally try alternatives.
“Once a driver starts realising I might not make it, and they start trying a GT3 car or hypercar, they fall in love with it as well,” Verstappen said. “Sometimes it just takes a bit more time to convince them to not only look at Formula 1.”
What matters most? “It all depends on the driver’s mindset as well to be open-minded.”
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