You know him as the "Lion," the guy who redefined aggression in a Formula 1 cockpit, and the driver who turned the orange army into a global phenomenon. But if you look at a race entry list or a trophy engraving, you see the shorthand. Max Verstappen. It’s punchy. It’s iconic.
Honestly, though, there’s more to the man than just those two syllables. If you’ve ever wondered about the formal identity behind the helmet, Max Emilian Verstappen is the name on the passport. It’s a name that carries the weight of two racing dynasties and a complex dual-national identity that fans still argue about in Reddit threads and trackside bars.
Max Emilian Verstappen: The Story Behind the Name
Why do we care about a middle name? Usually, we don't. But in the high-stakes world of F1, where branding is everything, the "Emilian" part of Max Emilian Verstappen often gets left in the dust.
Born on September 30, 1997, in Hasselt, Belgium, Max didn't just stumble into a kart. He was practically engineered for it. His middle name, Emilian, isn't just a random choice from a baby book. While the family hasn't made a huge theatrical production out of its origin, it fits the European tradition of melodic, classic middle names that balance out a strong, sharp first name like Max.
The name itself sounds a bit softer than the "Mad Max" persona he earned in his early Toro Rosso days. It’s a reminder that behind the 200-mph overtakes, there’s a guy who grew up in a very specific, very intense environment.
The Belgian-Dutch Tug of War
Here is something that confuses people: Max was born in Belgium. His mother, Sophie Kumpen, is Belgian. She was a world-class karter herself—some say she was actually the smoother driver compared to Max’s father, Jos.
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Because of this, Max actually holds dual nationality. However, when it comes to the Max Emilian Verstappen you see on the podium, he is Dutch through and through. He chose to race under the Dutch flag because he spent more time with his father during his formative racing years and, frankly, he feels more Dutch.
- Born in: Hasselt, Belgium
- Lives in: Monaco (like every other driver, let's be real)
- Racing License: Dutch
- Identity: Dutch-Belgian
It’s a bit of a quirk. If he had chosen the other way, Belgium would have its first F1 World Champion. Instead, the Netherlands got a national hero and a reason to turn every grandstand in Europe bright orange.
Why the Full Name Is Trending in 2026
You might be seeing Max Emilian Verstappen popping up more often lately. Why? Because the 2026 season has changed the vibe of the grid entirely.
After winning four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024, Max had a bit of a "human" year in 2025. He ended up as the runner-up to Lando Norris in a season that went down to the absolute wire. Now, as we kick off 2026, Max has done something that shocked the purists: he gave up the Number 1.
Since he isn't the defending champion this year, he had to pick a new number. Instead of going back to his famous 33, he’s running the Number 3. It’s a bit of a reset. When a driver of his stature goes through a rebrand or a "comeback" phase, fans start looking deeper into the biography. They want to know the "full" story—and that starts with the full name.
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The "Franz Hermann" Incident
Funny enough, if you’re looking for his name on entry lists, you might not even find the real one. Just recently, Max entered a GT3 test at the Nürburgring. Did he sign up as Max Emilian Verstappen?
Nope.
He signed up as "Franz Hermann." He told reporters it was basically a way to keep the crowds away at 8:00 AM so he could actually get some work done. It’s a peak Max move—using a fake, aggressively German-sounding name just to fly under the radar. It didn't work, obviously. You can’t hide that driving style, no matter what it says on the paperwork.
The Legacy of the Name
When we talk about the Max Emilian Verstappen legacy, we aren't just talking about 70+ wins and four (nearly five) world titles. We're talking about a name that has become a benchmark.
In the paddock, "doing a Verstappen" is a real phrase. It means being so uncompromisingly fast that you force the FIA to change the rules. It happened with his defensive moving-under-braking early in his career, and it happened with the age-limit rules that now prevent 17-year-olds from skipping the line.
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Quick Stats (As of early 2026)
- World Championships: 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Career Wins: 71
- 2026 Driver Number: 3
- Total GP Starts: Closing in on the 250 mark this year.
He’s not the "kid" anymore. At 28 years old, he’s the veteran that the younger guys like Kimi Antonelli are trying to hunt down.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan trying to keep up with the new 2026 regulations and Max’s pursuit of a fifth title, don't just stick to the highlight reels.
- Watch the 2026 Pre-Season Testing: This is the first year of the new Red Bull-Ford power units. The name Max Emilian Verstappen is going to be tied to a brand-new era of engine technology.
- Check the Entry Lists: Keep an eye out for "Franz Hermann" or other pseudonyms in sim racing and GT events. Max is racing almost every day, even when it's not F1.
- Respect the Dual Heritage: Next time he wins the Belgian Grand Prix (his "other" home race), notice how he acknowledges both sides of the border.
The "Emilian" might stay hidden in the record books most of the time, but the man carrying the name is currently the most formidable force in motorsports. Whether he's Max, Franz, or the Number 3, he's the one everyone else is chasing.
To really understand the current season, look into how the Red Bull-Ford partnership is handling the battery-to-engine power ratios, as that will determine if Max gets his fifth trophy this December.