F1 News

max verstappen almost failed his driving test

Verstappen makes comical revelation: 'That would have been embarrassing'

24 January at 07:00
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  • Ludo van Denderen

Max Verstappen is considered a child prodigy. Already at 16, the Dutchman was active in Formula 1. Where peers were just making their first meters on their scooters, Verstappen could already compete with the best car drivers in the world. At the time Verstappen turned eighteen, getting his driving licence would not be a problem. At least, you would think so.

Practice proved slightly different. In 2015, Verstappen flew back to Belgium straight after the Japanese Grand Prix, where his practical test was scheduled. The car in which Verstappen had to demonstrate his skills was a lot less fast and advanced than the one he raced on the international circuits: an Opel.

Verstappen was lucky

Before the exam was even well under way, Verstappen already had a warning on his hands. "The examiner told me to go right and I went left," Verstappen told The Sunday Times. "Then I didn’t give way [to pedestrians at a crossing]. He was not very happy. I argued with him because I thought they were not actually at the crossing. So I was, like, “But they’re not there yet, so why should I stop?'"

Despite these two moments, Verstappen still managed to pass his driving test in one attempt. Looking back on that day, the Red Bull Racing driver says: "Yeah, luckily. It would be quite embarrassing if I hadn’t. I think he was nice to me.”