Max Verstappen, the youngest-ever Formula 1 driver, owes much of his success to his father, Jos Verstappen, who played a crucial role in shaping his racing career.
Verstappen vehemently rejects assertions that his father, Jos Verstappen, coerced him into pursuing a life in racing.
Contrary to such claims, the Dutch prodigy revealed that his fascination with karting began at the tender age of four, when he witnessed a younger child behind the wheel of a go-kart. This early spark ignited his passion for racing.
At just 17 years old, Verstappen made his groundbreaking debut in F1, transitioning directly from the Formula Three championship to Toro Rosso for the 2015 season.
Despite a tumultuous start marked by several crashes, the Dutch sensation swiftly proved his mettle, emerging as one of the most exceptional talents in the racing realm. His remarkable achievements include clinching three consecutive Drivers’ Championship titles.
While many speculate that Verstappen’s father, Jos, played a forceful role in steering his son towards a racing career, a closer look reveals Max’s intrinsic connection to the sport.
Beyond his exploits on the track, the 26-year-old’s dedication is evident in his involvement in simulated racing and his unwavering enthusiasm for endurance and GT racing disciplines. Max Verstappen epitomizes a genuine passion for motorsport, embodying a lifelong commitment to his craft.
In his interview with M4 Sport regarding his initiation into the world of racing, Verstappen elaborated: “That’s a good story! Most people think, ‘Max was told to be a racer’. At the time I saw a kid younger than me driving. He was three, I was four. I was at the track with my mother because my father was racing.
“I told her I wanted to race a go-kart too! She called my dad, who said no and asked me to wait until I was six. But I didn’t budge, and six months later my mother finally convinced my father to buy me a go-kart.
“I think it’s very important that parents don’t force anything on you. In general, it’s good for a child to play sports, but it’s up to them to choose what they want to do. That’s what happened to me. If the parents’ will prevails, the child may not enjoy it and, as a professional, may not appreciate what he does enough.”
Although Jos Verstappen adopted a rigorous approach to his son’s upbringing, the three-time world champion acknowledges the profound influence his father had on his career.
Verstappen expresses gratitude for the role his father played, attributing it to shaping him into the formidable competitor he is renowned as on the racetrack.
He continued. “All kids grow up differently, they have different personalities, so his way wouldn’t have worked for everyone, But for me, it was what I needed! Of course, sometimes I did question why he had to be so serious and strict all the time. But now I am grateful for it.
“Because of my training as a kid, what came later, F3, the first years in Formula 1, couldn’t surprise me anymore. I had no difficulty fitting into a top sporting field because from karting to F3 I had the toughest but also the best possible upbringing. I was fully mentally prepared for Formula 1 and the difficulties.”
