Max Verstappen: "I was never mad Max"

Max Verstappen suggests he has matured as he looks to begin his fifth season in Formula 1 at the age of just 21. Due to his ropey start in 2018, the tabloids used the phrase "Mad Max". It became popular, but the Dutchman claims this was a false representation.

Both of these claims reflected on track towards the end of the season as the Red Bull driver demonstrated his skill to earn very decent results. He now has five race wins to his name, including the Austrian and Mexican Grands Prix from 2018.

With the likes of Lando Norris and George Russell flying the flag for the young drivers in 2019, Verstappen feels more mature.

“It’s going to be my fifth season so there are no excuses any more and you have to be mature," said Verstappen.

“I was never Mad Max. I was just Max who was trying to get the best result for the team. As a driver, I will always be the same guy. I always try to get the best result out of it, I’m not there to just sit second or sit third. I’m a winner and I want to win every single race and I will always go for it," he said in a conversation with Reuters.

In 2019, he'll race in his 100th Grand Prix. At such a young age, that's an eye-opening statistic, but perhaps even more eye-opening is his plans for the future. His minimum goal would give him 400 Grands Prix.

“My aim is to be here for 15 years at least. I’ve got another 11, and I’m 32 then. Maybe I can drive until I’m 36 or 37. 40. It depends on how long you like it as well. Maybe 42," he added.