It was never in doubt and a mere question of when and not if. Max Verstappen answered that question during the Qatar GP weekend, in the Sprint race itself. Verstappen just can’t get a straightforward championship win, can he? Regardless, the Dutchman is on the top of the F1 world again for the third time in as many seasons. However, no matter how many accolades he collects and no matter how much experience he has, there is one aspect that will not change. The Red Bull man hilariously revealed this aspect of his family member who cannot control their anxiety whenever he races.

Verstappen started life in F1 at the tender age of 17. Even though Verstappen is only 26 years old, it’s been almost a decade since his F1 debut. However, this feeling hasn’t sunk into his mother. Sophie Kumpen’s motherly instincts click in every time her world-champion son takes to the track. The Dutchman revealed his mother’s nervous ordeal during a conversation with David Coulthard for Channel 4’s latest YouTube video while talking about the importance of his family.

While talking about his family, Verstappen said, “I think our whole family lived for it. Of course, you know I was traveling a lot with my dad all over Europe so my sister did not get to see her dad as much I think as a normal person. So there’s a lot to it!”

Verstappen continued and talked about her exposing her anxiety. “It’s the same for my mom’s side. She was always very supportive.” He laughingly adds, “I think she still always so nervous when I start a race. Poor her I think she has to go to the toilet like 5/6 times a race. So I think she is sometimes quite happy when there is a safety car, you know she has her little break. But that’s I think how much it means to the family as well.”  

In fact, this isn’t the first instance Verstappen has ousted his mother in an interview. Verstappen also revealed a ritual his mother has been following since 2016.

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Max Verstappen reveals the ritual his mother has been following since 2016

F1 threw a hail mary at the grid with their last-minute rule change that perhaps took the advantage away from Verstappen and Co. Despite that, a win for the Red Bull man never looked to be in doubt, perhaps because they weren’t aware of the power of a mother’s love for her son. That and perhaps perfect strategic execution. We are not aware of the 2023 Qatar GP strategic decisions in the Red Bull camp but we do know about the powers of Sophie Kumpen. The Dutchman’s mother revealed it herself back in the day and her son backed the story up as well.

“I have sort of a, not really a religion, but you burn a candle for something that has to go well. This started with the race in Barcelona in 2016,” she confessed!

Verstappen backed the story as well and revealed, “Before every race, I receive a picture,” he said. “There she is again with the candle. She always does that in the local church in her neighborhood. At some point, I said, quit sending it to me. It doesn’t matter, anyway.”

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The incredible dedication can only come from a mother and it shows. Say what you will, the Dutchman is lucky to have another like her who has sacrificed so much and always put him first.