Qatar Grand Prix made my Verstappen dream come true," says Lebanese F1 superfan

Doha, Qatar: For Samir Khoder, a lifelong fan of Max Verstappen, attending the F1 Qatar Grand Prix was a dream come true a dream years in the making...

Doha, Qatar: For Samir Khoder, a lifelong fan of Max Verstappen, attending the F1 Qatar Grand Prix was a dream come true — a dream years in the making.

“I’m the proudest and biggest Max Verstappen fan,” Khoder said with a beaming smile, pointing to a placard he had personally crafted for the event. 

“I know Max has millions of fans worldwide, but I can proudly claim that I’m his number one F1 nerd supporter. I’ve been following him since 2016,” he told The Peninsula.

Khoder’s admiration for Verstappen began when the Dutch driver made history at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, claiming his first-ever F1 victory with Red Bull at just 18 years old. From that moment, Khoder was hooked, watching every race and eagerly awaiting the day he could see his hero live in action.

That day arrived in 2024. From his home in Lebanon, Khoder finally made it to the Lusail International Circuit. The trip was worth it — Verstappen secured his second consecutive Qatar Grand Prix title, and Khoder’s excitement reached new heights.