Newly crowned European kart champion Dean Hoogendoorn (13) is setting everything aside to reach his ultimate destination: Formula 1. Williams is lending him a hand. Since 2024, it’s not Nyck de Vries, but he who is the youngest Dutchman ever in a F1 training team. “I already notice the difference on the track.”
– Dean, since last summer you are known as the youngest Dutchman ever in a Formula 1 training team, specifically at Williams. How does that feel?
“Super cool! From a young age, it has been my dream to drive for a Formula 1 team, but I never expected it to happen so quickly. Suddenly, I was sitting with my father opposite team boss James Vowles and sports director Sven Smeets. We had seven months of discussions and eventually signed during the GP in Zandvoort. Both my father and I are convinced that we can make good progress with the team.”
– With Kimi Antonelli and Richard Verschoor, you have two excellent mentors. How does that work exactly?
“When I started racing in Italy at the age of eight, Richard Verschoor taught me more about racing lines and how a kart works. When I moved up to the class for twelve to fourteen-year-olds, Andrea Kimi Antonelli coached me a few times. I also had a meet-and-greet with Fernando Alonso once, as I was driving for his team at the time. I asked what it feels like to drive a Formula 1 car, and he took the time to explain it. Antonelli and Verschoor have helped me enormously and I still have good contact with them. We message almost daily and share experiences about races, training, and nutrition.”
