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Max Verstappen’s relentless drive to secure his fourth consecutive Formula 1 drivers’ championship has taken a toll on his family, according to his father, Jos Verstappen. The elder Verstappen revealed that the intense demands of Max’s racing schedule have been challenging for the entire family, but the triumph made it all worthwhile.
Speaking to Dutch radio station Radio 538, Jos described the family’s emotions leading up to Max’s title-clinching performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver sealed the championship with a fifth-place finish, placing ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. The feat makes Max only the sixth driver in Formula 1 history to achieve four drivers’ championships.
“I spoke to Max an hour and a half before the start,” Jos shared, explaining their pre-race ritual. “We always do that. He just didn’t know how the tyres were going to hold up, but I already had a good feeling about it when he came to the front after five or six laps. You also saw that the McLarens were not very fast, so it looked good.”
Despite not being present in Las Vegas, Jos followed the action closely and praised Max’s mature performance, which included expertly managing tyre graining and degradation on a challenging circuit.
Family Sacrifices
Jos highlighted the sacrifices made by the entire Verstappen family throughout Max’s career. “His whole family was suffering—his mother, his sister, and his grandmother,” Jos said. “Everyone sympathises with him, and as he said, sometimes we call him and he doesn’t have time. He sits with that, and then it’s nice to have such great successes.”
Max returned to Amsterdam after celebrating his victory, reuniting with his mother and sister at the airport. Jos recounted the whirlwind nature of Max’s schedule, noting that the newly crowned champion had been awake all night before flying to the Netherlands.
“I already met him in Amsterdam because he landed there,” Jos explained. “He had to drop some people off. Then his mother and his sister got on the plane. It had to be re-fuelled and flew on again. I can also tell you that he didn’t sleep, [he] stayed awake through until 10:30am, packed his bags, and flew to Amsterdam. Has to be possible, right?”
Trust in Max’s Independence
Jos also reflected on his decision not to attend the Las Vegas race. “Of course, it is nicer to be there, but sometimes I also like to stay home and not experience the stress of the whole week,” he admitted. “Max knows full well what he has to do anyway, so I don’t always have to be there anymore either, and I feel fine with that.”
The Verstappen family’s sacrifices and unwavering support continue to be a backbone of Max’s success, as the Dutch driver cements his legacy as one of Formula 1’s greats.
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