Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen‘s father, was a strict and uncompromising mentor who believed in pushing his son to the limits to ensure his success.
He believed that such an upbringing was necessary to thrive in the competitive world of motorsport, a sentiment echoed by others in the industry.
Despite criticism and accusations of abuse, Jos defended his approach.
“There are people who say I’m a bad father because I abused my child, I never abused him!” Jos said in documentary ‘Anatomy of a Champion’.
“I raised him, I was hard on him. That was my plan, many people cannot imagine what it takes to reach the absolute top level of a sport.
“I’m normally not a guy who really likes to open up about these kinds of things, but I think it does give you a bit more of an insight into how everyone lived through that period.”
The documentary delves into Max‘s early years in karting, highlighting incidents where his father’s tough love was on full display.
Jos Verstappen’s treatment of Max
One instance was Max‘s abandonment at a gas station after failing to win a karting championship, even though he was the best.
This incident, although unusual, was a part of Jos‘s philosophy to instill a relentless drive for success in his son.
Another incident involved Max being forced to endure frigid temperatures while practicing karting, with his fingers too cold to even hold the steering wheel. Jos‘s rationale was that toughening Max up was essential for success.
“When the fingers warm up again, that’s very painful. I said ‘ah, shut up’,” Jos noted.
This relentless training paid off, as Max later became a dominant force in karting. One of the most striking stories involved Jos physically striking Max‘s helmet during a karting championship.
“If you don’t drive normal we go home, I’ll pack up everything,” Jos said.
Max‘s reaction to this physical discipline was astonishment and self-reflection. He admitted that he had been driving poorly and that it was a wake-up call for him.
“But I knew his driving style,” Jos added.
“And I can see if he was making bad [choices] or driving bad, I could see it immediately.
“It woke him up. He needed that sometimes.”
Criticism of Jos Verstappen
These extreme methods of parenting drew criticism, with former Formula 1 driver Jaime Alguersuari expressing his concerns about Max‘s upbringing.
Alguersuari believed that Max‘s development was a result of his father’s harsh methods and did not consider it normal to physically discipline a child for not winning a karting race.
“I won’t raise my child like that,” Alguersuari noted. He also highlighted Max‘s demeanor on the track, characterized by a lack of sportsmanship and a willingness to harm his rivals. He attributed this behavior to Max‘s unique and extreme upbringing, which was influenced by Jos and the Red Bull racing program.
The documentary also delved into Jos Verstappen‘s personal life, which was marred by legal troubles and allegations of abuse.
He had faced accusations of harassment, assault, and verbal threats from his former partner, Sophie Kumpen, who was also a prominent karting driver.
Despite these allegations and a short stint in jail, Jos continued to play a significant role in Max‘s life and career.