Home/F1

via Getty

via Getty

Max Verstappen is the newest world champion in Formula One. The Dutch driver won his first world championship in dramatic fashion at the season-finale in Abu Dhabi in 2021. The Red Bull driver finally fulfilled his potential and his dream of becoming an F1 world champion.

He never gave up until the end of the race and capitalized when the opportunity presented itself. Verstappen was calm under pressure and relaxed throughout the whole saga. This trait of Max paid dividends in 2021; but early in his career, the approach did not impress his father, Jos Verstappen.

WATCH STORY: Mad Max: Verstappen’s Angriest Rants on Team Radio

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Max Verstappen recalls how his approach made Jos angry

In the Ziggo Sport Documentary about his life, the Red Bull driver shared he was relaxed outside the car. Verstappen mentioned Jos used to tell him he would become a truck driver with his approach.

“I am relaxed, which my father did not like very much. How many times have I heard that I would become a truck driver? Because I was so relaxed and sometimes lazy, according to him.” said Max on his father’s comments.

via Getty

Jos has really helped his son become the driver he is today. During his F3 days, he used to shout at Max from the pit wall to go faster.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“He saw me as a lunatic. I was hanging over the wall, telling him to go quicker. He doesn’t need that now. It is in him, it is inside him and he doesn’t need it anymore. He knows how to qualify.

At the beginning of his career, in Formula 3, he was still finding that perfect lap. During his Formula 1 career, he has improved on that quite a lot. Now, he is the man to beat in qualifying, 100 percent, and on track, of course.” said Jos.

Well, it is lovely to see how far the father-son pair have come in their lives. Max’s relaxed approach was one of the key factors that enabled him to challenge Lewis Hamilton in every race. So maybe Max was right all along.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

READ MORE: WATCH: Max Verstappen Displays his Masterclass as a 12-Year-Old on Karts