Max débuts in European F3 with Van Amersfoort Racing

Published on 04 March 2014 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen will take on the 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing. In his first full year in motor sport, the 16-year-old will become part of the famous racing history and pedigree of the experienced Dutch team. Together they will strive to successfully compete in one of Europe's most prestigious single seater championships. With this collaboration, Verstappen junior will follow in his father's footsteps, as Jos Verstappen, driving for Van Amersfoort Racing, clinched the Formula Opel Lotus Benelux Championship in 1992.

2013 was a year in which Max achieved unparalleled successes. He won most races on the international karting calendar as he claimed the world and European title in the KZ (manual transmission) category, as well as the European title in the KF (automatic transmission) category.
After his extraordinary achievements in karting, the rapid Dutchman absolved several successful Formula Renault 2.0 tests as well as a two day test session in a Formula 3 car in the latter stages of 2013.

The new year saw Max eager to prepare for his first full season in motor sport, as he participated in the Florida Winter Series. The series are supported by the Ferrari Driver academy and its goal is to teach and prepare budding, young racing drivers for a career in motor racing. Max straight away exploited his talent by claiming his first two single seater victories, on top of three impressive podium finishes.

Thus far, Max has had a chance to drive several different single seaters over the past months, such as a Formula Abarth (Florida Winter Series), a Formula Renault 2.0 and a Formula 3 racing car. The Dutchman's preference lies with the exciting F3 racers: "I feel really at home in an Formula 3 car and that's why we made this career choice. The cars have a lot of downforce and grip. This means you can carry a lot of speed through the corners and as a driver you can really make a difference."
 

At Van Amersfoort Racing, Max will be able to display his racing skills in a 550 kg weighing Dallara Formula 3 car, powered by a 2.0 litre Volkswagen engine. Not only the type of car but also the choice of team delights Max: "Van Amersfoort Racing is very ambitious and passionate about achieving good result. They love and want to win, which is very important to me, as I strive for the highest. And together with them I'm going to try to drive consistently as well as scoring as many points as I can."

Now that the decision for the 2014 campaign has been made, Max is eager to get going: "There is definitely an advantage to being part of a Dutch team during my first full single seater season. Furthermore, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season with Van Amersfoort Racing, especially as we are competing on all those iconic European racing tracks!"

Former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen is very happy about his son's collaboration with Frits van Amersfoort, who launched his team in 1975: "Max is going to learn a lot during his first full season in single seaters. The fact that he will drive for Van Amersfoort Racing, means that all the details about the workings and mechanics of a Formula 3 car, can be explained and analysed in Dutch. Furthermore, we'll be working with a good engineer, which in my opinion, is pivotal."

Despite the fantastic opportunity ahead of Max, Jos remains realistic: "The European F3 championship is a very competitive category with a competitive car and we want to do the best we can. However, it will be a year in which Max must learn from the small mistakes he'll inevitably make as a rookie. Regardless, this is the perfect step for Max venturing into single seater racing, as Van Amersfoort Racing is a fantastic and professional team."

Team boss and founder Frits van Amersfoort is excited about signing Max. "I can remember vividly when Jos was part of our team. To then have Max as part of our team, 22 years after his father, is a special situation. Max has an extraordinary amount of talent and his success in karting emphasised this. However, in motor racing you'll have generally less track time compared to karts. In my experience, a lot of youngsters switching from karts into single seaters will struggle with this, and Max will have to get used to this as well."

Van Amersfoort continues: "What it basically means is that a driver has to put in the perfect lap in a twenty minute qualifying session, which effectively means you have two or three laps to set that lap. In Max' case, we don't have to worry about his racing abilities as he has competed in a huge amount of races already and his racing instinct is just as highly developed as Jos'. The pressure and emphasis will therefore lie on qualifying."

Van Amersoort is excited for the upcoming season: "For a racing team it is always a joy to work together with an extraordinary talent. Max has claimed plenty of titles and trophies which makes it a good challenge for us as a team, especially when we are participating in a top championship that is European F3. To be among the front runners will demand the most of us but we'll give it all we got. Furthermore, 2014 will see a special rookie class which I think is the perfect goal for Max."

2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship schedule:

April 04 – 05    Hungaroring, Hungary       Official Test
April 08 – 09    Red Bull Ring, Austria     Official Test
April 19 – 20    Silverstone, Great Britain
May 03 – 04      Hockenheim, Germany
May 10 – 11      Pau, France
May 31 – June 01 Hungaroring, Hungary
June 21 – 22     Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
June 28 – 29     Norisring, Germany
July 12 – 13     Moscow Raceway, Russia
August 02 – 03   Red Bull Ring, Austira
August 16 – 17   Nürburgring, Germany
October 07 – 08  Imola, Italy               Official Test
October 11 – 12  Imola, Italy
October 18 – 19  Hockenheim, Germany