Max Verstappen Hits the Brakes: Denied Mercedes AMG Rental on Holiday!

In a surprising turn of events, Formula One world champion Max Verstappen found himself slamming the brakes on his holiday plans when a car rental firm rejected his request to rent a high-performance Mercedes AMG. The 26-year-old racing sensation, accustomed to pushing the limits on the F1 track, faced an unexpected roadblock as staff strictly adhered to age-related rules.

Verstappen, currently dominating the F1 scene with his unparalleled skills, aimed to elevate his holiday experience by taking the wheel of an AMG GT with a formidable top speed of 195mph. Despite being at ease with racing high-tech machines at speeds exceeding 200mph, he hit a speed bump when Sixt, the car rental company, deemed him too young to rent the powerful Mercedes.

The incident unfolded during Verstappen’s holiday escapade to the Algarve in Portugal, where he, along with friends and family, arrived in style on three private jets. Opting for luxury and speed, the party planned to rent around 20 cars from Sixt at Faro Airport, including the coveted Mercedes AMG GT. Additionally, they secured the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit for two days of thrilling racing.

However, Sixt dashed Verstappen’s hopes, explaining that allowing him to rent the AMG GT would breach their insurance policy due to his age, which falls below the required 30 years. Undeterred, Verstappen had to settle for a less powerful BMW 5 Series, a far cry from the adrenaline-pumping experience he had anticipated.

Despite the setback, sources close to the F1 star reported that he gracefully accepted the situation, stating, ‘He’s a seasoned F1 driver who’s used to handling powerful cars, so it’s quite astonishing to think he wasn’t allowed to get behind the wheel of this one. But those are the rules, so he abided by them.’

While Verstappen navigated this unexpected detour, his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, stepped in to drive the Mercedes. Sixt later expressed regret over the situation, stating, ‘The employees of our franchise partner in Portugal have only followed the rules that arise for insurance reasons. In order to find a customer-friendly solution on-site, Mr. Verstappen was provided with another premium vehicle.’

The car rental company acknowledged Verstappen’s driving prowess and assured him that he could rent the desired car at any time in the future. This incident serves as a reminder that even F1 champions face roadblocks when it comes to rental car policies, proving that strict adherence to rules applies on and off the race track.