The difficult story of Max Verstappen, the three-time champion in Formula 1

The Dutchman, who comes from a 100% steel family, has been driving since he was 4 years old. His father Jos, ex-F1, “trained” him with very violent but useful methods according to both, to make him a competitive machine.

Max Verstappen won his third Formula 1 title after finishing second this Saturday in the sprint race aboard his Red Bull RB16B. So far, he has won 13 races in the 2023 season and equaled Michael Schumacher’s 2002 season record as the fastest champion in the category, because there are still 6 races to play. The Dutch pilot knew how to channel the toughness, the need and in some cases the violence of his father, to make a name for himself among the best in history.

Because he was four years old, when he started kartingbuilt the history of the early Dutchman, who from his debut in 2015 aimed to become world champion and was able to achieve it in 2021 at Yas Marina, the home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. But the road to the gates of glory is not rosyor tulips, such as grow in their lands.

He was born 26 years ago – on September 30, 1997 – in Hasselt, eastern Belgium, and has had motor racing in his blood since day one. He inherited the nationality of the Netherlands through his father Johannes Franciscusbetter known as Jos, former top driver of the category (107 GP between 1994 and 2003, two podiums). In 1997, he married Sophie Kumpen and they had Max, their firstborn, who breathed F1 from the cradle.. They both divorced in 2008 and she reported him for gender-based violence, but she wasn’t the only one who experienced it.

Jos is also the owner of an early talent that has disappeared over time: in ’93 many teams in the category wanted him and he started with none other than Benneton., who next year will become world champion with Michael Schumacher. After being on the German side, it fell: it went through Simtek, Footwork, Tyrrell, Stewart, Arrows and Minardi. Beyond the two podiums, the most remembered image of him is burning in the pitlane of the German GP in 1994, when a trail of fuel and a spark caused an inferno from which he miraculously emerged unscathed.

After retiring in 2003, Verstappen Sr. almost quit. in his career to support his son Max’s dream from an early age, not just with resources. They ‘taught’ him in ways that were not accepted but, according to themselves, (they said this in a joint note), effective. “What are you doing?! Don’t drive like that or we’ll be home.”he shouted at him in front of all the pits of the world kart championship after the blow to the helmet, before he got up and won. He also took her out of school in the middle of winter to test her and even left her alone at a gas station after losing a race.

His mother is not well known, but she shined in the kart world until beating the top drivers after the fact like the Italians Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella. Christian Horner, the leader behind the RedBull team, raced him in the ’89 Junior World Championship and did not hesitate to prove it “He is among the ten best drivers in the world”. She dreamed of reaching F1, but when she married Jos she chose to dedicate herself to her family. “I see that my son is doing what I want to do and I am very happy”he told F1 Wags media.

The competitive family ties extend even further to the mother’s side. His cousin Anthony also stands out in the world of endurance racing. (Le Mans, Spa, Daytona…) and the European version of NASCAR, His great-uncle Paul was a national Rallycross champion and his grandfather, also a novice driver, came to lead Racing Genk., a football club playing in the Belgian First Division. Even her younger sister Victoria Jane – now a fashion influencer – tried her luck as a girl on four wheels, but without success.

Of them all, the most successful is undoubtedly Max, who has a very tough character forged by blows and challenges. Everything he needed to beat the great players of his generation like Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly. To become the debutant and youngest winner in the 70-year history of the category. To establish himself in a big team and, finally, fulfill the dream of becoming world champion again.