Max Verstappen’s FIA community service in Rwanda turned out to be a fulfilling exercise as the Dutchman embraced the opportunity to inspire young motorsport talent.
This engagement was part of a penalty imposed by the FIA following an incident during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, where Verstappen used inappropriate language during a press conference.
However, rather than viewing the FIA community service in Rwanda as a mere punishment, Max Verstappen embraced the opportunity to inspire young motorsport enthusiasts in Africa, showcasing his commitment to the sport’s grassroots development
The recently crowned four-time F1 world champion participated in a grassroots motorsport development program organized by the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC).
This initiative aims to make motorsport more accessible and inclusive across the African continent. The program is particularly focused on breaking down barriers to entry in motorsport and fostering talent among the youth.
During his visit, Max Verstappen interacted with aspiring drivers and engineers, sharing insights from his own journey in racing while encouraging them to pursue their dreams within this competitive field.
“This is my first time in the country, and it’s fantastic to see this,” Verstappen told the young students. “That’s why we also need to invest in grassroots.
“Everyone has that dream of making it to Formula 1, and that’s why this initiative is so great, it starts with such a car. It’s very important.”
Reflecting on his experience after fulfilling the mandated FIA community service, Max Verstappen expressed how inspiring it was to witness the passion and enthusiasm of Rwanda’s youth for motorsport.
“In the whole world, everything is getting more and more expensive, so the more you can build [motorsports] in your own country, the more you make it affordable for kids,” the Red Bull driver said.
“I think it’s great to have that possibility, and I hope it stimulates all these kids so that they want to be a racing driver, an engineer, in the future. It has massive potential and that is what I think everyone is working on… trying to make everyone very enthusiastic.
“It doesn’t matter where in the world you come from, anything is possible. That’s why I also think it’s important that we’re here. I’m very excited to see that hopefully in five to ten years, there are more people coming through [into motorsports].”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem praised Max Verstappen’s involvement in FIA community service initiative, noting that it exemplifies how champions can give back to their communities.
“We went there and he[Verstappen] really fulfilled his promise,” Ben Sulayem said. “He was there, he was with the young girls and boys who built the car and then there was also the girls who were in the [car for] first time for them, and karting.
“This is the community service that we need every single driver, champion to do. If we want to grow, if we talk about diversity, this is the real diversity.”
The FIA’s decision to assign Verstappen to Rwanda for the mandated FIA community service coincided with the annual FIA Annual Awards Ceremony held in Kigali. This event marked a historic moment as it was the first time the awards were hosted on the African continent.
During this occasion, Verstappen was awarded his fourth consecutive F1 championship trophy by FIA President Ben Sulayem and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
President Paul Kagame also confirmed the country’s bid to host a Formula 1 race at a purpose-built track near Bugesera Airport. This ambition reflects Rwanda’s growing interest in becoming a hub for international motorsport events.
If the bid gets approved, the country will mark the return of F1 to Africa, a continent that has not seen a Grand Prix since 1993.
