Max Verstappen might be hailed as one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers, but behind his meteoric rise to the top lies a tale of intense pressure, fear, and harsh treatment from none other than his own father, Jos Verstappen. Former F1 driver Pierre Gasly recently recounted a shocking incident from Max’s junior karting days that sheds light on just how extreme Jos’s demands were—bordering on what many might label as abusive.
“The Incident That Stunned Everyone”
In a junior karting race in Spain, a young Max Verstappen finished second, just behind Pierre Gasly. But rather than praise for his impressive result, Max was met with a furious tirade from his father. Gasly recalled the harrowing scene where Jos, furious with his son’s performance, exploded in anger.
“I won the race, and Max finished second,” Gasly shared. “I come back and his dad lost his s**t, yelling in Dutch and then insulting him in English with words I won’t repeat on camera. They weren’t nice. He grabbed Max’s helmet, threw it at him, and said, ‘No, get out! Go back to the tent! You can’t even win one of your races!’ The pressure was obvious—intense, race after race.”
“A Childhood Under Fire”
For Max, this wasn’t a one-off incident. According to Gasly, the pressure on young Verstappen to win every race was relentless. Jos’s criticism wasn’t just verbal—there were fears of potential physical consequences. Gasly emphasized how Max knew that failure could result in being berated or worse. It was an environment where anything less than victory wasn’t just unacceptable—it was dangerous.
“From Criticism to Control in F1”
Fast forward to today, and Jos Verstappen is still very much a looming presence in Max’s life. Despite the psychological scars from his karting days, Jos remains a regular figure at his son’s F1 races, continuing to exert his influence. In recent months, he’s taken his controlling behavior off the track, publicly clashing with Red Bull’s management over decisions he disagrees with.
Jos has openly voiced his dissatisfaction with key figures departing the Red Bull team, claiming that the team’s leadership is failing to address the issue. “I warned about this,” he said. “The team says, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter, we have someone else for that position.’ But too many people are leaving, and Max keeps getting questioned about it. It’s just not good, what’s happening at the moment.”
“Red Bull’s Title Threat Under Fire”
As Red Bull faces increasing pressure in the Constructors’ Championship, with McLaren pulling ahead and Ferrari closing in, tensions are running high. Jos’s public criticism only adds fuel to the fire. With the Austrian giant in danger of slipping to third in the standings, Max must now contend with both on-track challenges and his father’s volatile presence behind the scenes.
While Max Verstappen’s talent and success in Formula 1 are undeniable, the harsh methods of his upbringing cast a dark shadow over his journey to the top. Is the success worth the trauma? For Max, the legacy of his father’s relentless drive for perfection is inextricably linked to his own—and it seems that even in F1, the pressure from Jos never really goes away.
