SHORTLISTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR CATEGORY AT THE 2024 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS WATERSTONES' BEST BOOKS OF 2023: SPORT A definitive and intriguing biography of Max Verstappen, Formula 1's superstar, Lewis Hamilton's great rival and the three-time winner of the World Drivers' Championship. No Hollywood scriptwriter could possibly have envisioned the breathless, adrenaline-pumping climax to the 2021 Formula 1 season. On the very last lap of the final race of an unbelievably arduous and controversial season, Red Bull's Max Verstappen nervelessly overtook the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes to clinch the first place that thrust the young prodigy to the narrowest of victories and to his first World Drivers' title. He followed up by taking the 2022 and 2023 titles as well. Verstappen may only be 26 years of age, but the Dutch motorsport sensation has an incredible record in F1. This young man has already left an indelible mark on the sport. The son of F1 driver Jos, Verstappen junior quickly stepped out of his father's shadow: his youthful charisma, ferocious speed, fearless driving style and refusal to back down mark him out as a true champion. And the phenomenal success of Netflix's Drive to Survive documentary series has elevated his worldwide popularity still further. Widely respected motorsport writer and F1 insider Mark Hughes is perfectly placed to write the most authoritative narrative on Verstappen's incredible rise through the ranks to F1 glory. Hughes' immaculate credentials and first-rate access enable him to generate fresh and fascinating insights, and to paint a fully-rounded and richly-textured portrait of one of the most exciting young sportsmen on the planet.

マーク・ヒューズが描くのは、単なる王者の軌跡ではない。本作の本質は、父ヨスとの葛藤と絆を通じて鍛え上げられた、マックス・フェルスタッペンという絶対的な個の精神的変遷にある。著者は卓越した洞察力で、サーキットの爆音の背後にある静謐な決意と、若き天才が背負う宿命を重層的に描き出した。 Netflixの『栄光のグランプリ』が華やかなドラマを切り取る一方、本書は活字ならではの深度で、映像では捉えきれない王者の内面世界を補完する。映像が与える高揚感と、本書が明かす冷徹なまでに純粋なレーシング・インテリジェンスが共鳴し、読者はかつてない解像度で現代の伝説を目撃することになる。