Max Verstappen mentors McLaren junior Dries van Langendonck

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has expanded his off-track business by taking promising Belgian teenager Dries van Langendonck under his wing, while the 15-year-old driver remains part of McLaren's official junior program. The dual affiliation, announced on July 16, 2026, is an unusual arrangement in a sport where driver development pathways are typically exclusive.

Van Langendonck, who currently leads the British Formula 4 championship, will receive additional support and guidance from Verstappen and his management team, including access to the Verstappen Racing Pro Simulation resources. This complements his ongoing development within the McLaren Driver Development Programme, which he joined in the summer of 2024.

Verstappen expressed strong confidence in the young driver's potential. He stated he was impressed by the steep progress van Langendonck has made and is convinced all the signs for becoming a great future driver are there. Verstappen said his team would assist van Langendonck in reaching the ultimate goal of Formula 1, working hand-in-hand with McLaren to make the right decisions for his future.

The Belgian prodigy, who hails from the same city as...