“Go to Therapy & Work on Your Toxic Masculinity”: Max Verstappen Opens Up on His Father’s Triggering Behaviour as F1 Twitter Bursts Into Flames
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – United States Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. – October 21, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with his father Jos Verstappen before practice REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo
Max Verstappen has never shied away from admitting the tough parenting his father subjected him to during childhood. It all helped in making him the champion driver he is today. However, his latest interview hasn’t gone down well with the fans who have come down heavily on his father, Jos Verstappen.
Being the son of a former F1 driver, Max Verstappen developed a love for sport very early in his life. Max started karting as early as 4 years of age and tough schooling started at the hands of his father. According to some incidents Max narrated in the past, Jos would make him drive in tough conditions when races would be abandoned. However, the need to excel comes from a tougher place.
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Max Verstappen reveals why finishing second was never an option for him
Max Verstappen recently appeared for an interview with his father Jos Verstappen for Viaplay. He narrated another incident of Jos’ tough taskmaster approach on the show. Max told how he never had an option but to win.
He said, “Second is terrible, so win. It’s the first loser.”
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“My dad always said “first loser”. It triggered me. It’s not nice.”
This section of the interview screenshots is doing the rounds of social media and fans haven’t taken well to it. Have a look at some reactions.
so much to unpack here again. pic.twitter.com/m2lZpJGD36
— conni (@VERCAPLESS) December 14, 2022
One fan came to Jos’ defense as they believed he was being practical in his approach and inculcating a habit of winning in his son.
I don’t know why people are triggered for this ? It’s a fact , no one remembers second guys ! Glad it was jos who was his father else by this age max would be online doing nothing n cancelling random people ! Thanks jos for giving us max Verstappen https://t.co/yqPghOS9pF
— VJ ☀️ (@VnJnKR9S) December 15, 2022
One fan pointed to how Jos was a great mentor to Max for his driving, but not as a dad.
jos might have been a great driving mentor to max but he never should’ve been a dad to him. that f1 talk with max was another example why and if u can’t see it go to therapy and work on ur toxic masculinity pls.
— conni (@VERCAPLESS) December 14, 2022
right bc a real man doesn’t use padding to support their neck during high tense driving even if it means they could die from it. bffr. pic.twitter.com/1zO2OPtZH1
— conni (@VERCAPLESS) December 14, 2022
Jos may have made Max a champion but he also traumatized the poor kid. Every time he talks about his childhood or how his dad talked to him and acted with him it just breaks my heart. Max deserves unconditional love, I hope he realizes that one day, you don't have to earn it.
— Claire Vergoz (@ClaireVergoz) December 15, 2022
One user wondered why the champion driver keeps doing these interviews with his dad where he only reveals the harsh instances from his childhood.
WHY oh WHY does max keep doing interviews with jos.
— laura | #dankeseb (@jumbledlaura) December 15, 2022
Another fan felt for Max and wondered why Jos treat him the way he did.
somewhere in his mind, max feels jos had a genuine reason to bring him up like this. I hate this man so much, who tf who treats their kid like that
— mar✨ (@mar33v17) December 15, 2022
However, some felt while the behavior was toxic, it made Max the champion he is today so it did not matter.
If it weren’t for Jos max wouldn’t be who he is now. Yea it’s toxic but it works so who cares. https://t.co/z6mh0lQCdw
— ZayRazor (@RazorBBV) December 15, 2022
Oh Maxie 😿 While it's pretty standard in sports that the only place that counts is 1st, it's f*cked up of Jos to unload his feelings of inadequacy & his own professional failures onto little Max. But to play devil's advocate here, it also made Max the marvel he is today. https://t.co/SlI5xGMupC
— 𝕀𝕧𝕪¹ ¹¹☃️*⋆ 78 days till FP1*⋆🏎🏁🌊 (@Maxs2Cats) December 15, 2022
One user felt Max turned out as a champion despite his father and not because of him.
Max turned out so well *despite* Jos Verstappen and not because of him. pic.twitter.com/gQiJDe8dlN
— Elle 🦘🦁 CL16 & MV1 | protagonists (@ilpredestinato_) December 14, 2022
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Max’s dad is a piece of work. He brings stuff up so casually all the time but you can tell it’s left scars deep down.
Yeah look at where he is now & sure his dad played a role in that but he didn’t need to be such a twat to his son. Ways to go about it & Jos didn’t do it. https://t.co/0V5GTyYmyX
— Danke Seb 💔 (@sebsv5vettel) December 14, 2022
In a recent interview with GQ, Max talked about how he was happy he received the treatment he did from his father. He admitted it sounded harsh from the outside, but it made him what he is today.
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Watch This Story: Red Bull Hero Max Verstappen’s Net Worth
Do you think that such treatment was the only way to nurture him to become an F1 champion? Is Jos’s approach justifiable?
Written by:
Edited by:
Varunkumaar Chelladurai