In a rare and emotional interviewIf Verstappen, former Formula 1 driver and father of triple world championMax Verstappen, Speaking extensively for the first time about the pride he feels for his son – and about the difficult, often concealed moments from their joint past.
Jos, who was known for years as the hard, demanding father and mentor behind Max’s rise, was in conversation with the Dutch sports programPeptalkSee from a surprisingly vulnerable side.
“I am incredibly proud of what Max has achieved,” Jos visibly started emotionally. “He not only realized my dreams, but he has risen far above. And that is his merit – not mine.”
What followed was a frank retrospective of their intense father-son relationship, which was the subject of speculation and criticism years ago. Jos admitted that his upbringing style was “hard and sometimes unreasonable”, especially in Max’s karting period.
“There have been times when I went too far. I wanted him to succeed, at all costs. But sometimes I forgot that he was just a child. I regret that.”
For the first time, Jos also confirmed rumors about an incident during a cart race in Italy, where he and Max did not change a word with each other for days after a disappointing result.
“I thought silence would motivate him. But in retrospect I broke something that I could recover years later.”
The most surprising unveiling came when Jos spoke about the period around Max’s switch to Red Bull Racing. While many thought Jos supported this step completely, he now revealed that he had big doubts:
“I wanted him to go to Mercedes. I thought that was safer. But Max said,” Dad, I have to do this in my way. “And there his real journey began. He was right.”
The interview concluded with an emotional moment, in which Jos looked back when Max won his first world title in Abu Dhabi in 2021:
“I cried there. Not for the victory, but because I realized that he had done it all himself. I shaped it, but he has grown into something I could never have been.”
The reactions to the interview were heartwarming. Fans and connoisseurs praised Jos for his honesty and showing human vulnerability. Former driver and analyst Robert Doornbos called it “a historic moment of reconciliation and pride.”
What once started as a hard learning school between father and son has now become a story of growth, self -reflection and deep family ties. Jos Verstappen finally expressed what the whole world already felt: Max is not only his son, but his pride.
