Max Verstappen Recounts the Time His Father Jos Left Him on the Highway

Red Bull star driver Max Verstappen has already spent a good deal of time in Formula 1. At just 23, the world is his oyster, as he bids to challenge for the F1 drivers’ championship and win it someday.

His real coaching in racing started much, much earlier, courtesy of his dad Jos Verstappen. A former F1 driver himself, he knows all the ups and downs that the sport offers in its entirety.

Speaking in an interview, Max revealed an incident that happened after a karting championship. It showed the strict educator side of his father, Jos, which Max now looks back on and laughs.

Max Verstappen left alone on the highway after a karting championship

Sky Sport quote Max Verstappen as saying, “In 2012 he left me on the highway after the karting championship , but then after ten minutes he came to pick me up. Now I can have a laugh thinking about it, but times were hard.” (translated via Google Translate)

The father-son duo definitely enjoys a very special relationship with each other. It is no secret that Max attributes much of his success to his father, who laid down the foundations early in his racing career.

Only 15 at the time of that incident, little did Verstappen know that something big was forthcoming. Nearly only two years later, he became the youngest driver to enter Formula 1 with Toro Rosso, aged just 17 years and 166 days.

This snowballed into a promotion for him to the primary team, Red Bull Racing, at 18 years of age. What’s more, his debut for the side was a golden one, winning the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen destined to win a world championship title in his F1 career

Although Lewis Hamilton has been dominating the scene, it feels every year Verstappen is getting just that bit closer. He would have even caught up to Bottas had it not been for the retirements that cost him valuable points and podiums.

With an enforced Red Bull car over the next few years, Max can fully come into his own stride. His fans will certainly hope that there is an F1 title to his name waiting for him soon.