Max Verstappen made a special effort to meet 18-year-old fan Nina at the Hungaroring yesterday, following the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. Nina, who is currently battling cancer for the second time, experienced a moment she described as unforgettable. The meeting was facilitated by the Dobrý Anjel charity.
Former Slovak president Andrej Kiska, a co-founder of Dobrý Anjel, shared Nina’s story on social media. He detailed how the meeting with the four-time Formula One world champion almost did not occur.
Nina was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumour, at the age of nine. She completed her initial treatment in early 2018.
However, in February this year, the cancer returned in her sternum. This necessitated another round of chemotherapy and surgery.
To lift her spirits, Dobrý Anjel contacted Verstappen’s team, Red Bull Racing. In May, Nina received a signed photograph of Verstappen’s car with a personal birthday message.
She also received tickets to the Hungarian Grand Prix and a promise of an opportunity to meet the Dutch driver. Nina’s doctors adjusted her treatment schedule to make the trip possible.
The journey to the Hungaroring was complicated by heavy traffic, caused by motorway reconstruction. This delay meant the group arrived after the scheduled meeting had concluded.
Despite his own commitments, Verstappen altered his plans to ensure he could still meet Nina. This gesture allowed the fan to have her long-awaited interaction.
‘For some, it may have been just a few seconds. For Nina, it was a moment she will remember for the rest of her life,’ Kiska wrote on Facebook.
Kiska concluded his social media post by wishing Nina strength and success in her ongoing battle against cancer.
