Max Verstappen, one of Formula 1’s brightest stars, has revealed that he is “past halfway” in his F1 career as he gears up for his 200th race this weekend at his home track, Circuit Zandvoort, at the age of just 26.

Verstappen, who made history as the youngest driver to compete in an F1 weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix in 2014 at just 17 years and three days old, quickly ascended to prominence after signing with Red Bull later that year. His World Championship debut came in 2015, where he competed in the Australian Grand Prix at 17 years and 166 days.

Six years after his debut, Verstappen claimed his first World Championship title in 2021, famously overtaking Lewis Hamilton in the final lap of the season’s last race in Abu Dhabi—a victory that remains one of the most talked-about moments in recent F1 history.

The following season, Verstappen continued his ascent by breaking the record for most race wins in a single season, previously held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. He achieved 15 victories and a record-breaking points total of 454, cementing his status as a dominant force in the sport.

His 2022 achievements, however, paled in comparison to his 2023 campaign, where he won an astounding 19 races and amassed 575 points, more than double that of his Red Bull teammate, Sergio Pérez, who finished in second place.

As Verstappen approaches his 200th F1 race, he surprised fans by announcing that he has no intention of competing in another 200 races. When asked if he sees himself reaching that milestone, Verstappen simply replied, “No.” With a smile, he added, “We’ve passed halfway for sure. But it’s been an incredible ride so far.”

Despite his relatively short career, Verstappen has already made a significant impact on the sport. He is currently third on the all-time wins list with 61 victories, holding a remarkable 30.65% win rate. However, he remains far from Lewis Hamilton’s 105 wins and Michael Schumacher’s 91.

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Verstappen is one of six drivers to have won three World Championship titles, and while he still has a long way to go to match Hamilton and Schumacher’s record of seven titles, his achievements at such a young age indicate that he has the potential to reach even greater heights.

As Verstappen looks forward to his 200th race at Zandvoort, his home crowd will undoubtedly be cheering him on, celebrating both his past successes and the promise of what’s yet to come in his already extraordinary career.