Max Verstappen is 'still the same, sweet, little guy'

Raymond Vermeulen has provided rare insight into his long-standing relationship with the Verstappen family, revealing that Max Verstappen remains fundamentally unchanged despite his meteoric rise to Formula 1 stardom.

Vermeulen, who first managed Jos Verstappen before taking on the same role for the younger Verstappen, has been instrumental in the Dutchman's career.

The trio's close-knit partnership has proven remarkably successful, culminating in Verstappen's fourth consecutive F1 drivers' championship in 2024.

"Mutual trust is crucial. If you look back at the important decisions we have made, friendship and trust have always been the baseline. Otherwise, I would never have had the energy," Vermeulen told Formule 1 Magazine.

The dynamics within their tight-knit group have evolved significantly as Verstappen has matured.

"Especially because Max has grown up and has more of his own voice. In fact, he is now fully in the lead and is increasingly bringing his own DNA to develop further what we once started with," Vermeulen explained.

"I still set up the commercial structures, but Max is also becoming more and more intensively involved in that process. The creative ideas usually come from him."

Unchanged by success

Despite Verstappen's transformation into one of motorsport's biggest stars, Vermeulen maintains that the 28-year-old's fundamental character remains unchanged.

"For me, he is still the Max as I know him from before," he said. "He is still the same sweet little guy who went to Düsseldorf with his parents back in 2014 [to sign his first F1 contract].

"That is also a bit of the battery on which I can do this. I am busy with everything seven days a week," Vermeulen added on how he finds the energy for such an all-consuming role.

His commitment also extends far beyond traditional management duties. "From private matters and business things to work that would never belong to my job description in a normal setting," he stated.

"That is because I simply want to do it as well as possible for him. In all facets. I want him to feel comfortable and only have to be busy with racing. Jos and I try to arrange that as well as possible."

Vermeulen has also learned the hard way in the world of F1, learning from those he worked alongside in the paddock in the 1990s.

"I received the best training during Jos's time with the Eddie Jordans and Tom Walkinshaws of this world," he said. "The fact is, too, that with a talent like Max, you naturally have something special in your shopping basket."

"That makes for great work, but you still have to stay focused. You don't want clauses and passages in contracts that could leave you in a bind later on.

"The contract with Red Bull is the leading contract; we moderate the other contracts around it."