– While Max Verstappen himself has been closely linked with McLaren in recent weeks, he surprised on Thursday morning with a fascinating announcement that connects both sides in a completely different way.
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Verstappen is entering into a partnership with the Belgian young talent Dries Van Langendonck, who is currently competing in the British Formula 4. Since Van Langendonck is part of the McLaren junior program, Verstappen made it clear in Spa that his new protégé will continue to fulfill this role.
Alongside the McLaren program, Verstappen Racing will primarily support the youngster in two core areas – on a path that ideally should lead him all the way to Formula 1.
What the Verstappen deal means in practice
First, the Verstappen group will take over the management of Van Langendonck, with Raymond Vermeulen acting as the key figure pulling the strings behind the scenes.
In this respect, Thursday’s announcement is a real bombshell. Apart from Verstappen himself, the “Team Verstappen” has so far not managed any external drivers – the only exception being Raymond’s son Thierry Vermeulen. Van Langendonck is thus the first new driver from outside to be represented by the Verstappen camp.
According to Motorsport-Total.com, drivers have approached Vermeulen several times in the past, but he always declined such a mandate.
This underlines that Verstappen sees something very special in Van Langendonck – an impression he also confirmed during his media round with Dutch journalists in Spa. When asked by Motorsport.com whether this is a one-time exception or if he wants to manage a larger driver stable like Fernando Alonso in the long term, Verstappen replied:
“I would only do that with drivers where I really see outstanding potential. Drivers of this caliber don’t come around every year. That’s why Dries is the first for me. He definitely has everything it takes to make it all the way to the top.”
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It helps that Van Langendonck is no stranger to Verstappen. The connection between the two families goes back years: “Dries’ father knew my father and through the Pex family they were also close friends,” Verstappen explained, referring to the Pex family, with whom the Verstappens have maintained a close relationship since their karting days together.
“At some point, the topic just came up in our conversations. Dries was karting and you naturally keep an eye on that. You talk and in the end one thing leads to another, so here we are now,” said the Dutchman.
Regarding management, the deal rests on two pillars: career planning and financial support. In Spa, Verstappen confirmed that he is also willing to invest his own money in the Belgian’s future.
“We do what is necessary. Of course, he is with McLaren and they contribute their part to the budgets. But the sums in Formula 3 and Formula 2 are enormously high. We will see how it develops. These [investments] are logically one of the main reasons for our current collaboration.”
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Besides the financial foundation, according to Verstappen, it is above all about setting the right course in the junior categories below the top class.
“Ultimately, Dries has to deliver the performance in the car himself. Around that, we try – of course in close coordination with McLaren, since he is in their junior program – to guide him strategically in the right way and make the right decisions.”
“You often see in the junior ranks that wrong decisions are made and a driver ends up in the wrong team. Then you can’t show your talent, which is why these decisions are so extremely important.”
Verstappen’s role as driver coach: “Dries has that certain something”
Besides management, driver coaching forms the second pillar of the project. This is the area where Verstappen will contribute the most himself and which also gives him the most personally.
He has often emphasized that he wants to shape young talents – for example, he already supports drivers like Chris Lulham in the jump from sim racing to real GT racing.
“This includes preparation in the simulator and technical understanding. These are all areas where I try to support Dries and push him,” he says. Verstappen Racing’s simulators are located in Tilburg, Netherlands, where Van Langendonck can use them for his race preparations.
The goal of this dual strategy of management and sporting coaching is clearly defined: to lead the Belgian talent to the top: “The goal is Formula 1, and we will do everything to pave the way for him. Hopefully, we will succeed through the right decisions regarding racing series and teams, and by gradually giving him more experience,” says Verstappen.
The comparison with Verstappen’s own youth years strengthens the four-time world champion’s view that the Flemish young driver has what it takes for Formula 1: “For a 15-year-old, he is enormously advanced. When I compare him to myself at the age of 15, he is really extremely good for his age group.”
Nevertheless, Verstappen is cautious about directly comparing his protégé to himself. That would only create unnecessary pressure and is inappropriate anyway, as every driver is an individual.
“No one has to be a copy of another. Everyone has to find their own path, and that’s exactly what makes this project so exciting for me. Everyone has their own character, and that’s a good thing. If everyone were the same, it would be boring.”
“I have gained an enormous amount of experience throughout my career and I am now trying to pass that on to him and share it with him.”
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