Sven Smeets, the sporting director of Williams, may work for a rival team, but he has nothing but praise for Max Verstappen. The 52-year-old Belgian admires not only Verstappen’s skills as a driver but also the influence the Dutchman has had on the popularity of Formula 1.
If team boss James Vowles is the captain of the ship that is Williams, Smeets is his first mate. Together, they chart the course towards renewed success for the illustrious British racing team. “We aim to be at the top by 2026,” Smeets says.
In the pursuit of renewed success, there are many opponents to overcome. For instance, they will have to contend with Max Verstappen, a driver for whom Smeets has high praise. Interestingly, Smeets has quite a few connections with the Verstappen family. Smeets hails from Hasselt, the same city where the Dutch world champion was born and where his mother, Sophie Kumpen, grew up. The capital of Belgian Limburg, with its population of 80,000, has a rich motorsport tradition.
Moreover, Smeets reveals, his son is a Max Verstappen fan, as are many Belgians. “The sport is very popular in our country, and many of my friends watch it. This is partly due to Max. He may be Dutch, but many see him as half Belgian,” Smeets says.
Smeets is also aware that Jos Verstappen has become a more than competent rally driver. This creates another link, as Smeets himself was active at the highest level of rally racing for several years, including a stint with Volkswagen, before his time in Formula 1. Smeets also earned his stripes in the rally sport as a navigator.
