Helmut Marko provided the three-time world champion a fast-track to Formula 1. When Max Verstappen made his debut in 2015, it raised a lot of eyebrows up and down the paddock. The debut was a point of contention, so much so that the FIA decided to change the Super License regulations in the following seasons.

What did Helmut Marko see in Max Verstappen that they were ready to offer him an F1 seat, jumping straight from Formula 3? Just how did they predict that the now-Red Bull driver world champion had it in him that they pipped an alleged Mercedes offer, and put him straight in Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2015? To answer that, we need to take a look at Max’s junior racing progression, and the discussions Helmut had with Jos Verstappen.

Max’s Splendid Junior Career

Jos Verstappen, the former F1 racing driver with 2 podiums to his name, began training Max from a very young age. Max started his adventures with a quad bike when he was as little as 2 years old. When he was 5, he made the progression to go-karting.

Jos saw Max’s affinity for racing and began training his son. Not only did he train him, but he also built Max’s engines and served as his mechanic and chauffeur in a bid to allow Max to race all throughout Europe. One particular example of his training regimen in his formative years stood out to fans.

Jos and Max’s hard work came to fruition in late 2014. Merely a year after he graduated to cars, thanks to his phenomenal performance, Helmut Marko got on a call with Jos. Later, Helmut was quoted in a feature by Time, “He was on another planet. I said ‘Jos, forget everything. We do Formula One.'”

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After that, the rest is history. Verstappen’s rise at the pinnacle of motorsport has been remarkable. Looking at his journey, it definitely makes his father proud and all those struggles coming to fruition.

Max’s Journey to Formula 1

Naturally, there would also be some tense moments in this father-son relationship. F1 fans love to quote the time when Jos left Max stranded in a fuel station after a reckless move in a GoKarting race. However, despite this, the pair toughed it out and continued to work on the young one’s skills.

In 2014, merely a year before his entrance into Formula 1, he graduated to F3. He had previously tested for Dallara’s F3 car, and also several other Formula Renault 2.0 teams. However, his racing debut took place in the non-championship Florida Winter Series. In just his second race, he took the pole and proceeded to win the race.

Coincidentally, during his second race win, he marginally edged out Nicolas Latifi for the win. Verstappen would then score six consecutive wins and a total of 10 wins in the season, placing him third in the championship. It was after this, that the fateful conversation between Marko and Jos took place. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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