Max Verstappen has announced a partnership with 15-year-old Belgian talent Dries Van Langendonck, adding him to the Verstappen Racing stable.
Van Langendonck is currently competing in British Formula 4 as part of the McLaren junior programme, and Verstappen was quick to stress that will not change.
Verstappen Racing will work alongside McLaren to support Van Langendonck, focusing on two key areas: management and driver coaching.
Raymond Vermeulen, a key figure within the Verstappen organisation, will handle the management side of the arrangement for the young Belgian.
This marks a significant moment for the Verstappen camp, as Van Langendonck is the first outside driver to be taken on by the group.
Autosport understands that several drivers had previously approached Vermeulen about management representation, but he had never taken up any such offer until now.
Verstappen made clear at Spa that this was no casual decision, telling media: “I would only do it with drivers in whom I genuinely see great potential. Drivers this good do not come along every year.”
The connection between the two goes back years, with strong family ties playing a role in how the partnership came about.
“Dries’ father knew my father, and they were also good friends through the Pex family,” Verstappen explained, referring to a family with whom the Verstappens have maintained close ties since their karting days.
“At some point it simply came up in our conversations. Dries was karting, and naturally you keep a close eye on those things. You start talking and eventually you arrive where we are now.”
Financial backing forms one part of the deal, with Verstappen acknowledging the considerable costs involved in the Formula 3 and Formula 2 ladders.
“We do what is necessary,” Verstappen said. “Of course, he is with McLaren and they also contribute to the budgets. But some of the budgets in Formula 3 and Formula 2 are quite high.”
Beyond finance, Verstappen stressed the importance of making smart career decisions in the junior categories, noting that wrong team choices can prevent talented drivers from showing their ability.
“You often see wrong choices being made in the junior categories, where a driver ends up with the wrong team. In that case, you obviously cannot show your talent, so those choices are important,” he said.
Driver coaching is the second pillar of the arrangement, and the area in which Verstappen himself will be most hands-on, providing simulator work at the Verstappen Racing facility in Tilburg.
Verstappen drew a striking personal comparison when assessing his new protege’s current level, saying: “He’s very good for a 15-year-old. Compared to myself when I was 15, he’s very, very good at the same age.”
Despite the flattering comparison, the four-time world champion was careful not to place undue pressure on Van Langendonck by drawing direct parallels between the two.
“Nobody has to be like someone else. Everyone has to do it in their own way, and that is exactly what makes this project so exciting for me,” Verstappen said.
The ultimate objective of the entire arrangement is straightforward, with Verstappen stating: “The goal is Formula 1, so we’re just going to try and help him achieve that.”