Formula One champion Max Verstappen was recently denied the opportunity to rent a high-performance Mercedes AMG GT while on holiday due to his age.

The 26-year-old Dutch racer, accustomed to speeds over 200mph on the track, was told by car rental company Sixt that he couldn't rent the Mercedes because he is under 30. The car has a top speed of 195mph.

Verstappen, who won his first grand prix at the age of 18, had to settle for a less powerful BMW 5 Series instead. He was on a racing trip in Portugal with family and friends, renting around 20 cars from Sixt at Faro Airport.

A source close to Verstappen stated, "Max and the group went to Portugal for a fun racing trip and had booked the cars they wanted. When they got to the airport, Max was shocked when he was told he wasn’t allowed to drive the Mercedes he wanted."

Despite being disappointed, Verstappen followed the rules and accepted the alternative vehicle. His manager ended up driving the Mercedes instead.

Verstappen's Impressive Career and Achievements

Max Verstappen, who has reached a top speed of 213mph in his F1 car, has had a successful career in Formula One. He has won 54 races and made the podium 98 times. Verstappen has been racing for Red Bull since 2016 and is reported to have earned £43 million this year alone.

Belgium-born Verstappen began karting at the age of four and was competing in championships at the age of seven. His father, Jos Verstappen, was also an F1 driver.

Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has high praise for Verstappen, stating, "I believe he will turn out to be the greatest driver of all time."

Car Rental Company Apologizes to Verstappen

A spokesperson for Sixt commented on Verstappen's case, 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 spokesperson added, "However, there can be special circumstances that justify a deviation from rules. This is such a case. We apologize to Mr. Verstappen. He can rent the car he wants from us at any time."

Despite the incident, there is no doubt about Verstappen's driving skills and experience with powerful cars.

In August, Verstappen Caught Speeding in Aston Martin Valkyrie Supercar

Earlier this year, Verstappen made headlines when he appeared to break the speed limit while driving a £2.3 million Aston Martin Valkyrie supercar through a tunnel in France. A video showed him seemingly driving at 73mph on a 55mph road. Verstappen's representative has yet to comment on the incident.