Verstappen Racing has announced the arrival of another young talent to its career management program. Belgian Dries van Langendonck, only fifteen years old and a member of the McLaren driver academy, will also have the support of Max Verstappen and his management structure on the path to Formula 1.
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This partnership does not change the driver’s link with the McLaren Driver Development Programme, but adds a new support network to the development of his career in the junior categories. The goal is to assist his progression in single-seater competitions while aiming to reach the premier category of world motorsport.
Born in Zolder, Belgium, Van Langendonck currently competes in the British Formula 4 Championship for Rodin Motorsport. The young driver highlighted the importance of the agreement and stated that this new stage represents an important boost for his future plans.
“Verstappen Racing offers the support to take me to the next level of my career and represents an important step on my path to Formula 1, which is the ultimate goal. Being able to learn from such an experienced driver as Max and count on the support of his professional management team, in addition to the support from McLaren Racing, is truly amazing,” said the young driver.
Van Langendonck’s growth in the junior categories has been rapid. Before moving to single-seaters, he won seven karting titles and caught attention right in his debut in British Formula 4, when he secured pole position and victory in his first race weekend.
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This performance continued to be strong afterwards. The young driver won the Formula Winter Series title after winning nine of the fifteen races contested and started his first full season in Formula 4 in 2026.
At the halfway point of this year’s British championship, the young Belgian leads the standings. The result was boosted by an especially positive round in Zandvoort last weekend, where he secured two victories.
Verstappen praised the progress shown by the new member of his structure and believes the driver has important qualities to advance in the coming years: “I am impressed with the rapid progress Dries has made during his career and with the talent he has shown both in karting and in his first steps in single-seaters,” said the four-time Formula 1 world champion.
“After meeting Dries and his family, I am convinced that all the signs are there for him to become a great driver in the future. My management team and I, with the support of the Verstappen Racing Pro Simulation simulator, will help him achieve the ultimate goal of reaching Formula 1,” Verstappen concluded.
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