“Take a Step Back” – AlphaTauri Manager Recalls When Max Verstappen’s Father Crossed the Line
via Getty
MONTMELO, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 26: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Scuderia Toro Rosso speaks with his father Jos Verstappen in the team garage during day one of the final Formula One Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya on February 26, 2015 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
It is a well-known fact that Jos Verstappen orchestrated his son’s career right from when he was a child to his Formula 1 debut. But few know that the ‘extremely involved’ father of Max Verstappen was asked by Red Bull to take a ‘step back.’
This is something Graham Watson, the former team manager at Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri recently described.
He said that because of Jos Verstappen’s own career in which he was treated unfairly, he put in extra focus on his son’s road to success; perhaps a little too much at times. “Jos perhaps doubted whether our team was of the level to help his son further in F1. I noticed this especially in the fact that Jos tapped my shoulder every day and asked: ‘Graham, what about this and what about that?'” Watson recalls.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
He continued, “At one point I had to be a little blunt and say, ‘For fuck’s sake, just let the team members do their job.’ Only when Max came to Red Bull did they tell Jos that he really had to take a step back.” (Translated via Google Translate)
via Getty
MONTMELO, SPAIN: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks with his father Jos Verstappen in the garage during day three of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Watson gives Jos Verstappen credit for the tough mentality of Max Verstappen
The former team manager recalled an old conversation with the 2021 champion. He said, “I asked him: ‘Say Max, how do you deal with the nerves?’ He looked at me a little weird and said, ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Well, you know, when you’re on the grid street, the red lights come on and you’re standing among all the F1 stars who are much more experienced.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“Max just said, ‘Graham, I’ve honestly never thought about that. I just want to race.’ He added that he had been driving karts from the age of four and had felt the pressure of championships. He was only seventeen when he rode with us, but he had actually already had a long career and his father’s hard training,” Watson added.
Trending
Daniel Ricciardo To Be Replaced by Liam Lawson After Miami, F1 Pundit Dishes Out Harsh Verdict After Australian’s “Amateur Mistake”
April 17, 2024 11:14 AM EDT
Adrian Newey Hits Out at Climate Activist Lewis Hamilton’s Fuel Protest, Desperate to See V10 Engines Again
April 15, 2024 12:35 PM EDT
Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Department Sends F1 Fans Into a Frenzy: “Its a Fernando Reference”
April 19, 2024 09:43 AM EDT
Who are Zhou Guanyu’s Parents? Everything We Know About The Chinese Driver’s Family
April 16, 2024 02:07 PM EDT
Frustrated With Charles Leclerc, Fred Vasseur Issues 6-Word Message to Him Following Chinese GP Heartbreak
April 19, 2024 07:37 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
So, despite being asked to step aside by his son’s team, the key contribution in his son’s career was already done by Jos Verstappen.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
There’s no doubt that it was Verstappen senior’s intense focus on his son’s growth and developing his mindset that we know Verstappen junior for what he really is; a modern great.
Written by:
