Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Autosport Plus

Why top racing drivers use karting to stay sharp

Karting is traditionally viewed as the training ground for future stars, but several top drivers continue to use it to refine their skills

Performance

Our experts' guide on how you can become a better racing driver

Wind the clock back to September 2013 and the CIK KZ1 World Championship final in Varennes sur Allier, France. A highly-rated 15-year-old called Max Verstappen, the son of ex-F1 racer Jos and 1995 Andrea Margutti Trophy winner Sophie Kumpen, sits on pole. After a sluggish start, the factory CRG kart drops to third before fighting back to win, with ART's Monegasque prodigy Charles Leclerc heading a close battle for second.

Now the Formula 2 championship leader and with his feet under the table at Ferrari, Leclerc is widely-tipped to be an F1 star before too long, while Verstappen's meteoric rise to a Grand Prix winner aged 18 and 228 days with Red Bull is as well-versed as it is unlikely ever to be repeated.

Previous article Motorsport Network acquires Rainer Schlegelmilch photo archive
Next article Win Ferrari Racing Days tickets with Autosport International 2018

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe