Jos Verstappen addresses controversial claims about his tough parenting, clarifying his approach and its impact on Max’s F1 success.
Among the stories that have shaped Max Verstappen’s legend, one of the most controversial is about his father supposedly abandoning him at a gas station, tied to the Dutchman’s tough upbringing. However, Jos Verstappen insists this never happened and has spoken out to set the record straight.
“I think it’s time to clarify this story,” Jos Verstappen told F1-Insider. “The truth is, I didn’t leave him there. I didn’t abandon him. I just didn’t speak to him for a week. Is that too harsh? Not according to Max. He believes my approach better prepared him for Formula 1.”
“That’s why dealing with Helmut Marko, who’s also known for being a very tough man, didn’t bother him anymore. He also appreciates that we continued training with the kart and dry tires on a wet track. The only thing I feel from him regarding his childhood with me is gratitude.”
Jos Verstappen’s F1 career was quickly overshadowed by the gap between him and Michael Schumacher at Benetton. He admits to overextending himself trying to match the German driver’s pace: “It was very important. To be honest, I’m not proud of my career.”
“People remember me because I was in the fireball at Hockenheim in 1994. My car caught fire during a fuel stop. But I made mistakes. My teammate at Benetton was Michael Schumacher. He was extremely fast, extremely talented, and the best driver on the team.”
“I wanted to drive as fast as him, especially in races. But I couldn’t do it with my limited experience at the time. That’s why I made mistakes. I felt like banging my head against a wall. I’ve made sure to teach Max not to make that same mistake.”
“Thus, Liam Lawson should avoid making the mistake I made: trying to keep up with Max at all costs. He needs to focus on what works for him. I hope he has a driving style similar to Max’s so they can improve the car together.”
Max Verstappen also benefited from Michael Schumacher’s advice, as Jos explains, because they were friends off the track: “He was always excellent. He made an effort, even after his career. We often went karting together with our kids, Mick and Max.”
“Michael didn’t differentiate between them. If he had something to say, he said it to both of them. It’s very likely that Max also benefited from those experiences. Max has a lot in common with Michael: relentless on the track, but kind, sensitive, and caring in his private life.”
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Jos Verstappen on Parenting Max: ‘I Didn’t Leave Him Jos Verstappen on Parenting Max: ‘I Didn’t Leave Him
