MAX VERSTAPPEN: It was like driving on ice.
I couldn't make a mistake or miss the apex.
I was sure that he was going to get me.
There was a lot of pressure on everyone.
We were not sure if we're going to make it to the end.
It was such a crazy moment.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm Max Verstappen. This is the story
behind becoming the youngest racer ever in Formula One.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
I was 17 when I started my first race.
It was pretty crazy.
Always, when somebody gets in Formula One or whatever,
everybody has an opinion.
Some said, of course, I was too young.
And at the time, I didn't even have my driving license.
So basically for almost the whole year,
somebody had to drive me around.
[LAUGHS]
I was at my mom's house and she suddenly said to me,
"Max, don't you think it's time to get your driving license?"
So, yeah, it was funny.
I mean they knew, of course, I was in Formula One.
The driving instructor, he was very strict, which was good.
I mean, I was prepared. I had caps, T-shirts ready,
in case somebody needed to be bribed, but he didn't take it.
I only made two mistakes, I think.
Instead of turning right, I went left.
And I didn't give way, he said,
but for me it felt like the car was still a long way away.
So that was up for discussion.
INTERVIEWER: Have you learned how to drive a manual?
[LAUGHS]
Well, it's not my favorite thing to drive a manual.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
So the story of the switch between Toro Rosso and Red Bull.
The first-year races I had that season were good,
like it was all going quite well.
And we were getting some good results.
And I got a call from my dad first at home in Monaco.
And he was like, "Max, I think maybe there's a chance
you're driving for Red Bull in the next race."
And I was, like, "What, are you crazy, like...
What are you talking about? I'm at Toro Rosso."
And I didn't believe my dad, so he hung up.
And then of course, at one point Helmut,
I think it was on the Tuesday,
he said you have to come to Graz.
So we went for lunch and the hour went by and nothing was...
I was like, why are we here, there's nothing coming out.
And then suddenly Helmut was like, "Oh, yeah, and by the way,
yeah, next week you're driving for Red Bull.
So get ready."
You need to go to the factory at Milton Keynes,
and, yeah, you need to prepare a seat,
and you need to be in the simulator a lot.
So I was like, okay.
Like, it just came out very spontaneous as if it was the...
the most normal thing in the world.
Then we went to a Milton Keynes,
of course, a completely new car for me.
Everything was new. So it was very important to get the basics done.
Then we go to Barcelona, flying to that weekend.
For me, massive pressure.
I was out there to try and of course show immediately
that I was capable of driving for a top team.
We arrived in Barcelona. Yeah, of course.
A lot of pictures, a lot of questions as well from the media,
but they tried to keep me away from a lot of stuff.
And then you focus again on what you have to do
and that's perform on the track to qualify.
It was all going really well.
But then in the second round, of course, where it counts,
I locked up in one corner and I lost quite a bit of time.
So I was P4.
And of course everyone was very happy,
like, "Well done, Max, like, P4."
I remember Christian first coming to me at the grit.
He was like just enjoy, you know, try to get some points,
but just, you know, get yourself up to speed.
Helmut, of course, you know, "Try to go for the podium."
He was a bit more optimistic.
Sitting in my room that night, I was just very excited to start,
you know, the first time I actually had the chance
of fighting for podium possibility.
So, yeah, I was just looking forward to get back into the car.
And then of course the race.
[CAR ENGINES REVVING]
Immediately, the car felt nice to drive.
So, you know, that was a big plus.
And then, big shocker.
The two Mercedes cars, they crashed into each other.
And suddenly I was into P2.
So I was like, well, worst case I finish fourth
and best case I'm on the podium.
But then we went on into the race.
So I was in the lead and I had Kimi behind me.
Throughout the race, the tires... I was wearing quite a lot of.
So we were not sure if we're going to make it to the end.
Yeah. The last 10, 15 laps, it was like driving on ice.
My rear tires, they were pretty gone,
but of course I could see Kimi behind me was also struggling a bit
to stay close so I couldn't make a mistake.
As soon as I would lock up a little bit or miss the apex,
I was sure that he was going to get me.
I also even started, I think, cramping a little bit
with like five laps to go
just because of the excitement and the focus.
It was pretty crazy.
Like, I was literally counting the laps at the end.
There was a lot of pressure.
My dad was getting so excited throughout the race
that his nose started bleeding.
Yeah. I can't even imagine how he was sitting in my driver room,
you know, watching the final few laps unfold.
It was very important at the time in the last chicane in Barcelona
to always have a good exit.
And once I went through the final chicane, to start the last lap,
and I knew that I nailed it and I knew that Kimi wouldn't pass me.
So I became the youngest racer in Formula One.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
You dream of first of all being on the podium,
but then of course if you win in the first ever time on the podium,
honestly, I had no clue where I had to go, what I had to do.
When I crossed the line, it was such a crazy moment
hearing Christian say "Race Winner"
which he, you know, always says to a driver who first won.
My engineer came onto the radio.
I mean, I think he was shocked himself with what just happened
and then Helmut was standing there.
You're even not allowed normally to be where the cars are,
but Helmut of course get in. He didn't care.
First I wanted to, like, shake his hand.
I had no idea how I had to react so then of course we hugged.
But then of course it was for me the most emotional one
was when I saw my dad after the podium ceremony
and we finally, like, hugged each other, you know,
it's like an achievement, yeah, we completed together.
Yeah, very special moments.
We organized of course a private jet with a few other drivers.
We had a few fun times in there.
There are a few blurs in the night, which I guess is a good thing.
Definitely didn't hold back that night. That's for sure.
It was like a dream come true really,
first of all, youngest driver in Formula One,
but then also youngest winner.
And then it's quite funny when you think about after 2015,
they changed the rules that you have to be at least 18
to start your first race in Formula One.
I think that's the best achievement.
Thanks for watching, everyone, and hit the subscribe button.