Henk-Jan Schaaphok

McLaren Young Driver Programme (1998-2000)
Henk-Jan Schaaphok started his big journey in the McLaren Young Driver programme. The young dutch driver raced in series like the German Formula Three Championship, Formula Renault and many more.

He always finished in the Top 5 of any series he had taken part in. One day he got a phone call from the team principal of McLaren Mercedes, where he got called up into the Formula One.

Formula One (2001-)
Henk started his Formula One career in Bahrain in 2001 in the wonderful McLaren Mercedes car, alongside his team mate Isaac Belal who just got called up to the team as well. Isaac was also a competitor in the German Formula Three Championship and was one of Henk's main rivals. Henk struggled in his first grand prix weekend in Bahrain, as the conditions were very tricky in Qualifying.

Schaaphok ended up on P10 in Qualifying, and had to pull off a big recovery drive in the race which he successfully did.

Schaaphok ended up winning the Bahrain Grand Prix after a amazing performance from him, winning infront of Marvin Hanf and Kimi Raikkonen.