A TEENAGER is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button to become Britain’s next top racing driver.

Thorpe Bay youngster Max Cuthbert has set his sights on a career racing and has picked up first place in a series of international races.

The 13-year-old is already a professional go-kart racer competing across the world in the Junior Rotax category.

He first got into karting as a nine-year-old after he went for a family fun day out at an indoor track, and he “hasn’t looked back since”.

He currently races against other teenagers two years older than him, and is hoping to make the step up to Formula Four in the coming years before moving up to F1.

Max’s mum Jenny said: “Max has always loved cars and watching racing with his father from an early age.

“He is extremely disciplined and dedicated both at the track and away from it, he sacrifices ‘normal life’ in his pursuit of excellence.

“He works with a personal trainer each week, and trains on his own daily. Away from the track he works hard on his kart simulator in preparation for his races.

“At the track he always gives it 100 per cent, working on his data and camera with a driver coach in between each session on track.

“We are beyond proud of what Max has achieved so far.

“His dedication, the huge sacrifices he has to make to compete at this level astounds me and I couldn’t be prouder.”

So far this year, he has secured top spot in the European International Championship and Dutch National Championship in the Junior Rotax category.

In 2024, Max will be completely compete in the national British Kart Championships as he continues to follow in the footsteps of his heroes.

After a successful 2023 campaign, Max is now seeded number two in Europe. Some of the world motorsport’s most famous and successful drivers began in karting before going on to race in F1 - something Max is determined to do.

His mum added: “Max dreams of racing cars when he is old enough, he wants to be a high-performance athlete and is dedicated to reaching his goal and following his idols’ footsteps both in F1 and saloon cars.

“He has a great mindset for this sport and if he keeps pushing, I believe he will reach his dreams.”