Max Verstappen Reveals Belief in Rising Belgian Star Dries van Langendonck

Max Verstappen has opened up about his decision to sign rising Belgian racer Dries van Langendonck to Verstappen Racing last month. In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, the four-time Formula 1 world champion detailed why he believes in the teenager touted as a future F1 star.

Van Langendonck, just 15 years old, is currently one of Belgium's brightest prospects. He competes in British Formula 4 with Rodin Motorsport and is also part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme—a clear sign of how highly he is rated within the F1 paddock. The young Belgian only made the switch from karting to single-seaters in 2025 but has already impressed with several race wins.

Earlier this year, van Langendonck claimed the Formula Winter Series title and currently leads the British F4 championship with four victories in 18 races. A step up the ladder in 2027 has yet to be confirmed but seems inevitable for a driver making such a strong impression at this level.

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Verstappen sees enormous potential in the young Belgian and is eager to collaborate with McLaren to guide him on the right path to F1. "At the end of the day, if I see real potential in a person—because the dream is Formula 1—then if I really feel he's the one who can make it, I go for it," Verstappen said. "That's what I felt with Dries. It's not because we speak the same language, but because of what he was doing from a young age. You could see he was naturally quick, always there. It probably takes him less effort to be there. So that's talent."

He added that talent alone isn't enough, emphasizing the need for balance. "Talent doesn't always beat hard work, so it's about finding that compromise between being very talented and helping him with everything that comes alongside that talent. He's had good support from his parents so far. Now it's the next step, together with the McLaren programme, to make sure he can make it to F1 by making the right decisions," Verstappen explained.

He also stressed the importance of preparation for each new series. "We just make sure every opportunity is there for him to take. Then it's up to him to take it," he said. Yet, Verstappen is mindful not to overburden the teenager. "I don't want to put too much pressure on him. He's 15 years old, and step by step, hopefully, we can get him ready to do it," he concluded.