For Rafael Vaessen, racing under the Singaporean flag carries meaning beyond the result sheet.
Singapore is known globally for its Formula 1 Grand Prix, but Singaporean drivers remain far less represented on the international stage. For Vaessen, that makes his own place in motorsport feel more distinct. Although he also has Dutch heritage, he sees his choice to represent Singapore as both personal and meaningful.
In an exclusive interview with Pit Debrief, Vaessen reflected on representing Singapore, completing national service, the role he hopes to play for younger drivers, and the questions he would one day ask his future self.
Representing Singapore: Vaessen on carrying the flag
For Vaessen, representing Singapore internationally feels special because so few drivers race under that flag at higher levels. He recognises that the country does not have the same depth of racing representation as many European nations, which makes the opportunity stand out more.
At the same time, he also understands the wider sporting context in Singapore. For him, that makes it even more meaningful to be one of a small group carrying the flag in international motorsport.
“Definitely, it’s quite cool being one out of like six drivers, five drivers to be racing with the Singaporean flag internationally. You’re not wrong. Singapore does not really help their drivers. But I mean, Singapore, to be honest, hasn’t really been a country to focus on athletes. So, unless you make it to F1, I would say they would support you. But it’s definitely cool to be one out of six.”
A deliberate choice: Why Vaessen races for Singapore
Vaessen could have taken a different route. As a driver with Dutch heritage, he had the option of racing under the Dutch flag. However, he feels that representing Singapore makes more sense for him.
Part of that comes from rarity. In Europe, he sees many Dutch and European drivers competing across the ladder. A Singaporean driver reaching higher levels feels less common, and that gives the choice added significance.
“Because in Europe, you have the Netherlands, you have like so many drivers that are Dutch. So many drivers are European. I’m half Dutch. So I could have chosen to drive under the Dutch flag. But it makes more sense for me to drive under the Singaporean flag. Because it’s rare to see a Singaporean driver higher than a Dutch driver. So definitely quite cool. Definitely special.”
That decision is also tied to his own life away from racing. Having already completed national service, Vaessen feels a clear connection to Singapore and expects to continue representing the country throughout his career.
“As I have also done my national service for the country already. So definitely have that in my heart that I will be driving for Singapore for sure for the rest of my career.”
A Singaporean presence: Vaessen on the drivers carrying the flag
Vaessen also pointed to other Singaporean drivers making progress internationally, including Christian Ho and Kabir Anurag. Their presence shows that Singapore does have drivers representing the country beyond its Grand Prix.
However, Vaessen also noted one major difference in his own situation. Having already completed national service, he can now focus on racing without needing to pause later for that commitment.
“Christian Ho, Kabir Anurag, I’m sure you know them. Yes. They’re repping the Singaporean flag and they’re quite high and they’re doing quite well for their careers. But they still have to come back to do two years of service. I’m not too sure how they’re going to cope with that. I’m not sure how they’re going to deal with that. But for me, that’s done. So, I’m quite happy I finished that already.”
Timing and perspective: Everything happens for a reason
That timing has shaped how Vaessen views his wider journey. Earlier in the series, he reflected on the pause in his racing career and how his path might have looked different had he never stopped karting.
Now, with national service completed and his racing career moving forward again, he sees that route with a sense of perspective.
“Yes, strategic. So that’s why I said earlier that if I started karting and I didn’t stop, I kept going, things could have turned out differently. So like I said, I think everything happens for a reason.”
For Vaessen, that belief ties together several parts of his story. The pause, the return, the completion of national service, and the move into cars have all shaped the position he now finds himself in.
Legacy beyond results: The person Vaessen wants to become
When asked what he hopes people remember about him many years from now, Vaessen did not focus only on results. Instead, he spoke about being someone others can approach for help.
That answer connects to the coaching work he already does. For Vaessen, coaching allows him to keep learning while helping others, and he hopes that role can continue in some form as his career develops.
“I mean, I’m now coaching, and I hope to keep on coaching because I still learn a lot. I hope that people can come to me as a person to ask questions. I hope I’m in that position where people are comfortable to come ask questions, ask for help, ask for assistance, like Andrea [Todisco]. It’s like something like that. Just someone for people to rely on to get better in their career, wherever they are. It doesn’t matter.
Fast on track, approachable off it
Vaessen also hopes people remember him as both a strong driver and someone enjoyable to be around. He pointed to the balance he admires in Max Verstappen: intensity and excellence on track, but a different personality away from the car.
For Vaessen, that combination matters. He wants to be remembered not only for pace, but also for the way people experienced him outside the cockpit.
“And I hope that people remember me as a happy, fast, good racing driver, like Max [Verstappen] is. A bit on the track as insanely good, and off track as someone who you can’t stop talking to, or someone you really like to be around. I hope that’s the case.
Reliability and helping the next generation
Above all, Vaessen returned to one word: reliable. He wants that quality to define how others see him, both during his racing career and beyond it.
That future vision also brings him back to Andrea Todisco’s influence. If Vaessen eventually stops racing, he can see himself taking on a similar role by helping younger drivers progress and maximise their potential.
“Definitely someone reliable, reliable for sure. And yeah, reliable. I think that’s the number one thing, I hope. Because I think in the future, if I stop racing, I would want to be what Andrea is, to assist younger drivers to move and progress with their racing career and trying to maximise their performance, which Andrea is doing with me right now.”
Looking back: The questions for his future self
When Vaessen imagined speaking to a future version of himself, his questions were not centred only on results or how far he had climbed. Instead, they focused on fulfilment.
He would want to know whether the journey had been worth it, whether he would choose the same path again, and whether racing had given him the kind of career he could look back on with happiness.
“I would ask, “Would you do it again? Would you do anything different? Would you try something else? Do you think that this was the path that, or the career that you were happy to finish your career with?” So those are the main questions, I think, for sure.
No regrets: The final measure
For Vaessen, the final measure of his career would be whether he could look back without regret. That idea brings his story back to the same themes that have shaped the series: rediscovering racing, learning resilience, committing to the work, and building a future with purpose.
“Just making sure if that was the right path and making sure I didn’t regret anything. No regrets.”
As Vaessen continues to represent Singapore and build his career in cars, his focus extends beyond any single result. He wants to improve, help others, become reliable, and eventually look back knowing he chose the right path.
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