Michael Schumacher & Jos Verstappen never wished to send their sons into racing. There was this famous interview in the F1 paddock where both veterans mentioned their sons Max & Mick. The logic was perhaps to safeguard them from the risks of F1 & motorsport & also maybe get a bit of variety in their sporting experience. Although, like fathers, like sons – Max Verstappen & Mick Schumacher both ended up in F1. While Mick is struggling, Max has risen like a conqueror, demolishing the F1 grid. Some people often cite that it is perhaps due to the rumored tough love Jos gave him.

Jos Verstappen has developed this image of a tough & strict father who forged his son into shape to develop his ruthless champion mentality. While that may be true at some level, he still has a gentle side. F1 veteran & journalist Peter Windsor unveiled the same alluding to his friendship with Schumacher.

Is Jos Verstappen misunderstood?

The camaraderie between Michael Schumacher & Jos Verstappen is well-documented. While they raced hard on the track, off-track, they were best buddies. In his YouTube Live chat on the Japanese GP, Peter Windsor cited the beauty of their friendship & proving otherwise on Jos’s tough & harsh image.

Windsor stated how Jos will have had a major influence in molding Max’s racing brain & developing his understanding of how to be a ruthless champion driver. However, he also explained that it doesn’t mean that he is a very strict & harsh father to the Dutch champ. He stated, “And I think Jos would have been pretty much involved in the way that racing brain was molded. Jos yea was tough & hard. The Jos I know is a very funny, nice guy.”

Trending

MET Gala 2024: Travis Kelce Left Awestruck as Lewis Hamilton Steals the Show With Black History- Inspired Look On the Red Carpet

May 07, 2024 10:04 AM EDT

F1 Fans Slam Insecure Fernando Alonso For Playing Race Card Against Lewis Hamilton in Miami

May 04, 2024 08:52 PM EDT

After GF Alexandra Saint Mleux Gets Mistaken as Future Wife, Charles Leclerc Debuts His Son Leo at the Miami GP

May 07, 2024 08:19 PM EDT

“This Is a Joke Right?”: Rebecca Donaldson and Alexandra Saint Mleux’s Endorsement of F1 Academy Leaves Fans Fuming

May 04, 2024 08:09 PM EDT

Lewis Hamilton Steals Max Verstappen’s GF Kelly Piquet’s Thunder Despite Her Bold $30,000 Fashion Statement at Miami GP

May 05, 2024 04:15 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

“I don’t know this incredibly tough Jos. And don’t forget he was very very good buddies with Michael [Schumacher] as well when they were together & after they weren’t together, Jos went to Arrows, Michael & Jos were very good friends So If Jos was this incredibly harsh, difficult guy, I don’t think Michael would have been friends with him.”

These points do absolve Jos’s image, as he never wanted Max to race in the first place like Michael did for Mick. Given he may have been tough & strict to shape Max into a great competitor. On the other hand, besides this rumored tough love, Jos will have also comforted his son when need be.

Where Is Jos Verstappen? Why Is Max Verstappen’s Father Missing From F1 Action?

Thus, despite all the gas station anecdotes, Jos Verstappen has been an awesome father for sure. To groom & teach his son & make him a world champion like he is, shows the kind of vision Jos had for him. One can never say like father, like son in their case as Jos never even won a race, let alone setting records like Max. Yet, he is maybe living the dream via his son’s success.

Jos on his “hard” & “tough” ways with Max Verstappen

Jos Verstappen agrees that he has been hard & strict in his ways to groom Max. There have been narratives around his approach that he abused Max & was not very kind to him when he made mistakes. Nevertheless, Jos brushed all these narratives off to put his perspective on the entire saga.

In the documentary ‘Anatomy of a Champion’ by Viaplay, he said, “There are people who say I’m a bad father because I abused my child, I never abused him! I raised him, I was hard on him. That was my plan, many people cannot imagine what it takes to reach the absolute top level of a sport.”

Jos cited how he is not the kind of guy who opens up about such stuff. But to provide insights about these things, his perspective is crucial. Combining it with Windsor’s views about his friendship with Michael, it does point toward absolving his “harsh” father image to some extent.

WATCH THIS STORY | Max Verstappen-Piquet Break Up Rumors Galore After Rare Instagram Glitch Sends Fans Into a Frenzy

What do you think about Jos Verstappen?