"I am more than halfway through at 200" says Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen is poised to commence his 200th Formula One race this Sunday, in front of his home crowd in the Netherlands, at the young age of 26.

However, the triple world champion from Red Bull has no plans to extend his career to 400 races. When questioned on Thursday about the possibility of reaching that milestone, Verstappen responded with a straightforward 'no,' despite the fact that drivers like Fernando Alonso, who is 43, and Lewis Hamilton, who is 39, are still competing.

"Nice and easy. So we passed halfway for sure," he remarked, noting that his contract with Red Bull extends until 2028.

Verstappen made his Formula One debut in 2015, becoming the youngest driver in history at 17 years and 166 days. He also holds the record for being the youngest race winner, achieving this feat in 2016 at 18 years and 228 days, along with being the youngest points scorer, podium finisher, and the youngest to reach 200 races.

"It's been an incredible journey," he stated. "Reaching 200 races doesn’t feel like a significant milestone, but with the number of races we have each year, it accumulates quickly."

This season features a record 24 races, a significant increase compared to a decade ago. Verstappen expressed his desire to evaluate the impact of new regulations set to be introduced in 2026, keeping his future options open.

When asked to highlight a memorable moment, Verstappen pointed to his inaugural victory with Red Bull in Spain, followed by his first championship win in Abu Dhabi in 2021. That particular victory was marked by controversy, as it followed a late alteration to the safety car rules while Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes was on track for his eighth title.

At Zandvoort, Verstappen remains undefeated, having won from pole position in all three races held there since its return to the calendar in 2021. However, he anticipates a challenging race this Sunday, as Mercedes has secured victories in three of the last four races, and McLaren may possess an even faster car, with Red Bull currently on a four-race losing streak.

"I'm not entering this weekend with the expectation of winning the race," he stated. "My focus is on having a smooth weekend, gaining a better understanding of the car, and learning from the experience."