Exclusive: Max Verstappen details belief in rising Belgian superstar

Max Verstappen has detailed his belief in rising Belgian superstar Dries van Langendonck, whom he signed to Verstappen Racing last month.

At just 15 years old, van Langendonck is regarded as one of Belgium's brightest talents, with many believing he is destined to reach Formula 1.

The teenager currently competes in British Formula 4 for Rodin Motorsport and is also a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, an indication of how highly he is rated in the Formula 1 paddock.

He only made the switch from karting to single-seaters in 2025 but has already secured several race wins. Earlier this year, van Langendonck won the Formula Winter Series and currently leads the British F4 championship with four victories in 18 races.

Another step up the ladder in 2027 has yet to be confirmed but appears inevitable for a driver making such a strong impression at Formula 4 level. Verstappen sees enormous potential in the young Belgian and is eager to work with McLaren to guide van Langendonck along the right path to F1.

"At the end of the day, if I see real potential in a person, because, in the end, the dream is Formula 1, right, for some of these drivers, then if I really feel like he's the one who can make it, I go for it," Verstappen told RacingNews365 during an exclusive interview.

"That's what I really 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.

"Talent doesn't always beat hard work, so it's about trying to find that nice compromise between being very talented and helping him with everything that comes alongside that talent. Of course, I think he has already had good support up until now, with, you know, his parents doing everything they could with their know-how. 

"I think now it's the next step, together with the McLaren programme, to make sure that he can make it to Formula 1 by making the right decisions, because it's so crucial that he always ends up in the right team to be able to show his talent. 

"Besides that, of course, it's about the preparation for every new series he goes into. We just make sure every opportunity is there for him to take. Then it's up to him to take it."

Verstappen eager to avoid unnecessary pressure

Verstappen is heavily involved in the scouting process when it comes to young talent, with the four-time world champion watching a substantial amount of racing.

However, with his various commitments, it is not always possible for him to watch a rising star such as van Langendonck in person. Instead, he relies on his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, and his father, Jos Verstappen, to step in.

When it comes to his latest signing, the key is to take his age fully into account and ensure that he is not placed under too much pressure.

Asked if Verstappen personally scouts young drivers, he responded: "Scouting? Yeah. I watch a lot of racing myself. So, yeah, and then, of course, I have my dad and my manager, Raymond.

"I have people everywhere, so if I need information, I can ask them as well. But at the end of the day, I need to feel that it's someone I think is capable of doing it.

"At the same time, 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."