Betting on Max Verstappen
In short
Max Verstappen, born in Hasselt but racing under the Dutch flag, won four world titles in a row between 2021 and 2024 with Red Bull Racing. In the 2026 season he sits sixth in the drivers' championship with 112 points and still without a win, though he did reach the podium at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps. Betting markets around his name exist per Grand Prix, at qualifying level and across the entire season, from race winner to head-to-head against teammate Isack Hadjar. For the Belgian audience, his birthplace and the role of father Jos Verstappen and mother Sophie Kumpen also remain a frequently asked question.
No driver on the current F1 grid draws as much attention in Belgium and the Netherlands as Max Verstappen. This page explains who he is, how his 2026 season is going so far and what kinds of bets exist around his name. It's an explanation, not advice: which market suits you is your own call.
Who is Max Verstappen?
Max Verstappen was born in Hasselt, the son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen and Belgian ex-karting racer Sophie Kumpen. Although he was born in Belgium, he has raced under the Dutch flag his whole career. He made his Formula 1 debut in 2015 at the age of seventeen, making him at the time the youngest driver ever on the grid. Since then he has built one of the most successful careers of his generation, with four world titles in a row between 2021 and 2024, each time with Red Bull Racing.
Verstappen is known for his aggressive yet precise driving style, his strong performances in changeable weather conditions and his ability to perform under pressure in title-deciding races. At Red Bull Racing he forms a pairing this season with Isack Hadjar, who moved over from sister team Racing Bulls.
Max Verstappen in the 2026 season
The 2026 season has so far gone unusually for the four-time world champion. After the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Verstappen sits sixth in the drivers' championship with 112 points, still without a win this season: a rare situation for a driver who dominated the standings for the past four years. He did show he can still fight for the podium: at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps he finished third, behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc.
At Zandvoort things went less smoothly: on a wet track he lost control in the final, banked corner at the end of the first lap and crashed hard, bringing out a red flag. It underlines how up and down this season has been for him, with moments of podium form alternating with setbacks.
Betting markets around Max Verstappen
Around a driver like Max Verstappen there is a wide range of markets, spread across different levels of the season.
Per Grand Prix you can bet on Verstappen as race winner, on a podium finish (top 3) or on a Top 6 finish, depending on how realistic a given outcome is assessed to be at that moment. Head-to-head markets pit Verstappen against another driver, for example his teammate Isack Hadjar or a rival from another team: you then only predict which of the two finishes higher, regardless of the exact classification. There are also specials such as whether Verstappen finishes ahead of the other Red Bull driver, whether he scores points in a race, or how he compares to a specific rival from another team on a given weekend.
At qualifying level there is a separate market for the Qualifying Winner (pole position), separate from the race winner. Verstappen is historically known as a strong qualifier, which regularly makes this market relevant for him. On sprint weekends too, such as Zandvoort this season, an extra set of markets opens up around sprint qualifying and the sprint race, separate from the regular Grand Prix.
Across the entire season, outright bets run on the drivers' championship, where you predict whether Verstappen takes the title at the end of the year. Given his track record, he remains a name to watch for many bookmakers in this type of market, even in a season where he doesn't yet lead the standings. That a four-time world champion has not booked a win halfway through the season is, for many followers, exactly what makes this market interesting this year: the 2026 season is going differently for Verstappen than the four preceding years, which makes assessing his chances of a fifth title harder than in a season where he had already won multiple times.
For the full explanation of exactly how each of these markets works, including live betting during a race weekend, see our general guide to betting on Formula 1.
Want to check out a market around Max Verstappen yourself? Check out the current Formula 1 offer at Napoleon Sports. 21+ only.
Driving style and reputation
Verstappen built his reputation as a driver who stands out through a combination of aggression in the battle for position and precision in execution, a combination that has regularly helped him overtake in the past at moments when other drivers held back. That reputation also plays a role in how followers assess his races: in changeable weather, such as at Zandvoort this season, extra attention is often paid to his position, precisely because he historically scores well in that kind of conditions, even though Zandvoort this season itself turned out differently. His experience as a four-time world champion also means that, even in a season without a win, he is watched closely by teams and analysts as soon as Red Bull Racing makes a technical step forward.
Max Verstappen's Belgian connection
A frequently asked question among the Belgian audience is why Max Verstappen, born in Hasselt, races under the Dutch flag. The answer lies with his father Jos Verstappen, who is himself Dutch and raced several seasons in Formula 1. Max Verstappen chose at the start of his career to race under the Dutch licence, just like his father. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, is Belgian and raced at a high level in karting herself. That combination of a Belgian birthplace and mother with a Dutch father and licence means Verstappen is followed as one of the most popular drivers of his generation in both countries.
Verstappen's titles: 2021 through 2024
Between 2021 and 2024 Max Verstappen won four world titles in a row at Red Bull Racing, putting him among the select group of drivers with four or more consecutive titles. The 2021 title fight, against Lewis Hamilton, is widely regarded as one of the closest in the sport's recent history and was only decided in the very last lap of the last race. In the years that followed, from 2022 through 2024, he extended his lead further with dominant seasons. For the full overview of all world champions through the years, including record holders, see our page on the F1 world champions.
The Napoleon Sports app
With the Napoleon Sports app you follow Max Verstappen and the rest of the Formula 1 season on the go: the standings, the calendar and the betting offer on your smartphone. Available features and markets may vary by device or version.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Max Verstappen, born in Belgium, race under the Dutch flag?
How many world titles has Max Verstappen won?
How is Max Verstappen doing this season?
Can I bet on Max Verstappen as this season's world champion?
Who is Max Verstappen's teammate this season?
More about Formula 1 at Napoleon Sports
More background on this season can be found on our Formula 1 hub, the championship standings 2026, the calendar 2026 and the Grand Prix guide 2026. For an overview of this season's drivers and teams, head to our drivers and teams guide, and read more about Verstappen's home race in Belgium in our guide to Formula 1 in Spa-Francorchamps. For the full list of world champions through the years, head to our page on the F1 world champions. Read more about how betting on Formula 1 actually works in our guide to betting on Formula 1. The current betting offer can be found on the Formula 1 World Championship page.