Competing team boss bet money on Verstappen after fabulous test

Carlin Motorsport has proven over the past 20 years to be one of the best teams in the step-up classes to Formula 1. In almost every championship in which they have competed, they have become champions and if you look at the list of drivers who have driven for this team, you will see many famous names from Formula 1. However, owner Trevor Carlin would have liked to have added one name to that list.

Especially the list of F1 drivers who drove for Carlin in the British F3 championship is impressive. From Takuma Sato to Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris and Kevin Magnussen. So you could say that Carlin has an eye for talent.

Max Verstappen didn't escape his attention in those years either, but he was just too late. “We nearly got Max Verstappen. I desperately wanted him but had already filled all my seats. I knew he was by far the best prospect", said Trevor Carlin to The Guardian.

Carlin bet money on Verstappen

So much so I went down the bookies and put a bet on him becoming an F1 driver within three years when he hadn’t even done a single-seater race. I saw him at a test and thought: ‘This kid is incredible.’ I love the sport, I know who has got it and who can make it.”

Verstappen eventually drove for Van Amersfoort Racing that year in Formula 3, where he would be third in the championship, one place behind Carlin-supported Tom Blomqvist. The following year he already drove Formula 1 with Toro Rosso.