If we were to describe Max Verstappen in a few words – unforgiving, fierce, and fearless would top the list. But has he always been this way? Surely, Mini Max must have been a normal boy growing up. You’re mistaken if you think this is true. A rather heartbreaking story leads back to his childhood. No, the ever-relentless Verstappen didn’t have easy early days. However, the experience of tough love turned him into the beast we see on the track now.

27 years ago, on September 30, Max Verstappen was born to Jos Verstappen and Sophie Kumpen. As one might have guessed, gasoline ran through his veins already. After all, what else could anyone expect from the son of an F1 driver and a Karting champ? And while we’re already talking about Verstappen Sr. and Sophie, let’s dig deeper…

Sophie Kumpen: Max Verstappen’s mother dearest and a karting star

Sophie’s rise in motorsport begins from her early days in Hasselt, Belgium. The little girl began karting at the age of 9 or 10. By the time she was 16, she was racing in Formula A (along with Christian Horner), Formula K, and Super A classes. She was up against tough competitors and future world champions like Jenson Button. And surprisingly, she was dominating the track against the boys! Now we know where Max got his dominating genes from. She reached the zenith in 1995 when she won the Andrea Margutti Trophy. David Coulthard complimented her for her valor in a male-dominant sport. In fact, F1 oracle, Eddie Jordan always had a kind word for the lady boss of the tracks.

While Jos Verstappen was struggling on the track, romance was blooming in his personal life. Verstappen was seeing a life partner in the Go Karting champ, Sophie Kumpen. She had been a regular in the F1 paddocks and one could tell, that love was indeed in the air. The Belgian motorsport prodigy, Sophie was just 21 when Verstappen Sr. asked for her hand in marriage. At the time a lot of career-related questions popped into their minds. And ultimately it was Kumpen who caved in and sacrificed her dreams. She explained: “What do we do now to see each other more? I could not ask Jos to give up his dream as he was already racing in Formula 1.” 

It was because of Kumpen that Max Verstappen began karting. Despite spending most of his childhood with Jos, and crediting him for his F1 success, Max thanks his mum for encouraging him to take karting sessions. And thanks to Sophie Kumpen’s initial push, we now have a Dutch world champion in F1.

How did Max Verstappen get into Karting?

Both of the Red Bull ace’s parents established themselves in motorsport. They noticed their son’s potential in his early days. You’d be surprised to know that Max Verstappen’s motorsport journey began when he was just two and a half years old! He used to own a quad-bike which he rode around in all day. Slowly, he transitioned into four-wheelers and his parents noticed just how talented he was behind the wheel. Soon he got his own kart and casually walked into motorsport.

Although he spent most of his childhood in Holland, and most of the credits for his F1 career go to Jos Verstappen, Sophie Kumpen has never strayed away from the credits. However, these karting events brought out a side of Jos, that most definitely has instilled trauma in Max’s memories. In one particular incident, teenage Max didn’t win a karting race, his father left him at a gas station as a punishment. He was always told he’d never become a champion, instead he’d be some sort of a truck driver. But according to Jos: “There are people who say I’m a bad father because I abused my child. I never abused him! I raised him and was hard on him. That was my plan. Many people cannot imagine what it takes to reach the absolute top level of a sport.” 

European Grand Prix Nurburgring, Germany 19-21st May 2000.RD6 35mm Original Jos Verstappen Shows the Arrows F1 car to a child. World LAT Photographic Tel: 44 0 181 251 3000 Fax: 44 0 181 251 3001 e-mail: latdigdial.pipex.com PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY open-uri20120927-30515-16f5fww

These bouts between the father and son were also somewhere a triggering point for Sophie Kumpen. Of course, she wanted a racer son, but at the cost of traumatizing him? Surely not. And after spending 12 years with Jos Verstappen, the couple finally decided to part ways in 2008. Their divorce was a mutual plan but it wasn’t an easy one. Some believe it was Jos Verstappen’s on-track frustrations that he carried into his home. And some believe there was a massive clash of egos between Sophie and her husband. So what is it?

The story of Sophie Kumpen and Jos Verstappen’s divorce in 2008

The couple had a torrid time together. Despite a marriage blooming from love, they kept failing to comply with each other. Their married life wasn’t a happy one with myriads of disagreements. After a series of accusations and counter-accusations, Verstappen Sr. and Kumpen decided to part ways. You might wonder why they stuck around for 12 years. It was because of their children- Max and Victoria.

Both Jos and Sophie were passionate about motorsports. Surprisingly, in their early courtship, they found common ground over this. However, following Verstappen’s retirement in 2003, their relationship was slapped with reality. Max was barely four and Victoria was just two when their parents intensified their bouts of discontent. Soon, the couple realized they had nothing in common except their love for motorsport. Their clashes became more frequent and a major magazine of that time reported about this troubled relationship.

Sophie told the public that nothing was going on between them, but behind the scenes, she was losing her faith in love. She wanted to give their relationship another chance for the sake of the children. They tried marriage counseling, but nothing worked. This went on for a few years and 2008 saw the last light going out. Their approach towards things became very difficult over the years. Verstappen wanted to continue with the lifestyle he had when he was a racing driver. Meanwhile, he wanted Sophie to stay back to manage the household. This difference in opinion led to the two spending a lot of time away from each other before their divorce. Max Verstappen, who was on his way to becoming a future star in F1, found himself spending a lot more time with his father, who helped him pave his way to the pinnacle of motorsports.

We’re no one to judge, but maybe this decision paved the way for Max Verstappen’s F1 dreams. But it’s hard to imagine, how difficult it must have been for young Verstappen and Victoria. Watching their parents quarrel every day, then facing the wrath of a strict father on the track. Max Verstappen didn’t have the most glorious childhood, however, his difficulties shaped him into the beast we see in every race. However, no child should endure such heartbreaks, it is so unfair towards them, don’t you think?