That Max Verstappen is going to play a role in guiding the Belgian racing talent Dries van Langendonck is no coincidence. The families know each other and one thing led to another. The Dutchman praises the talent of the Belgian youngster, but that does not mean he wants to make a copy of him. “No, it is actually nice that not every driver looks alike.”
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The collaboration between Verstappen and Van Langendonck (15) was announced on Thursday and the Belgian is seen by many as a great racing talent. Will he become the new Max Verstappen? Who knows. That is not what matters to the Dutchman anyway. He simply wants to help and guide the young Belgian in the continuation of his still early, but already successful career. And how it came about? Verstappen tells about it in Spa, ahead of the Belgian GP.
“Dries’s father knew my father and our good friends from the Pex family as well. Eventually, things come up, Dries was karting and that way you keep an eye on things. Then you start a conversation and come to the moment where we are now.”
‘Together with McLaren’
Where that can lead, perhaps Formula 1, remains to be seen. “Dries is ultimately the one who sits in the car and has to accelerate. But we will try to provide the right guidance in everything around that and help him make the right choices. Of course, we do that together with McLaren, because he is in their junior program.”
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Verstappen says he can help not only with development but also with avoiding, for example, wrong choices. “For example, that you are with the wrong team in a certain class and therefore cannot show your talent. We can also help with the simulator and the technology, increasing knowledge. You try to help and support there.”
The four-time world champion calls it a “very nice and interesting project.” And continues: “I really see potential in him.” What does Verstappen look for then? “That someone is always there, you also have to be consistent. You can make big steps at a young age, but you don’t have to explain the basics to him anymore. After that, it’s about follow-up steps, but with his talent, it’s good and also how he works as a person.”
He does not have to become a copy of Verstappen in terms of nature and driving style, according to the Dutchman. “I think no one should look like each other anyway. Everyone should do it in their own way. That is the most beautiful thing.”
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Read everything about the Belgian GP here
