As 18th birthday’s go Max Verstappen had an unusual one.
Instead of spending it face down, bottoms up down his local pub as we may or may not have done, the teenager has been behind the wheel checking his mirrors and making sure he knows how to do a three-point turn.
The Toro Rosso driver has made a very impressive debut season in Formula One grabbing 32 points so far and made history earlier this year when he set a record to qualify sixth at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
But it turns out the youngster, whose father is the Dutch driver Jos, was competing in the sport despite not actually having a proper driver’s licence to drive on his own.
But today he’s put all that right by passing his driving test first time.
Legal to drive. Born to race! #driverlicense pic.twitter.com/rofgrA9jKp
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) September 30, 2015
Happy birthday @Max33Verstappen ! You do actually have the right to drive a car now 😉 🚗 #lol
Wish you a good one 🎉— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) September 30, 2015
Of course it also means that if he does ever get his hands on a podium finish he’ll be guilt free drinking that champagne.
