F1 News
'People were shocked at how hard Jos Verstappen was on Max'
- GPblog.com
Despite his young age, Max Verstappen is a very experienced Formula 1 driver and even a reigning world champion. The often strict supervision of father Jos is often mentioned as the reason for Verstappen's rapid development, but at the time this hard approach could not count on approval from everyone.
Shocked by harsh approach to Verstappen
That Verstappen had a talent for hard driving became clear at a young age. In go-karts, the young Max took one victory after another and quickly advanced to Formula 3. There too he impressed and Helmut Marko ensured that the Dutchman made his debut in Formula 1 at the age of seventeen.
In an interview with Autobild, Gerhard Berger looks back on Verstappen's early years. The former world champion can still clearly remember Jos Verstappen being mercilessly hard on Max. "Even as a spectator you were shocked and thought, 'But that's not how it goes'." Now, many years later, Berger must admit that Jos' approach worked. According to the former Formula One driver, Max is an exceptional driver and a fine human being. "The hard school of daddy Jos was probably the right one after all," he says.
Marko not too difficult for Verstappen
In the interview, Berger agrees that Jos' tough approach ensured that Max did not mind Red Bull advisor Marko's hard hand at all. Berger explains that in the beginning of his career he also worked with Marko. "First he made me wash the truck. But it was a good thing. Because I had survived Helmut well, even an Enzo Ferrari, Frank Williams or Ron Dennis couldn't hurt me."
That Verstappen was well destined against Marko is evidenced by the fact that Verstappen is now in his seventh season with Red Bull Racing and before that drove another season with Toro Rosso. Moreover, Verstappen recently signed a new contract to remain tied to Red Bull through 2028.