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European Grand Prix Nurburgring, Germany 19-21st May 2000.RD6 35mm Original Jos Verstappen Shows the Arrows F1 car to a child. World LAT Photographic Tel: 44 0 181 251 3000 Fax: 44 0 181 251 3001 e-mail: latdigdial.pipex.com PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY open-uri20120927-30515-16f5fww

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European Grand Prix Nurburgring, Germany 19-21st May 2000.RD6 35mm Original Jos Verstappen Shows the Arrows F1 car to a child. World LAT Photographic Tel: 44 0 181 251 3000 Fax: 44 0 181 251 3001 e-mail: latdigdial.pipex.com PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY open-uri20120927-30515-16f5fww
They often say that records are made to be broken. However, Max Verstappen has a record in F1 that will probably stay forever, until the sport survives. That is the record for being the youngest driver ever to race in F1. After that, the FIA changed some rules that barred drivers under the age of 18 from entering the championship. Max Verstappen caught many by surprise when he made his debut as a seventeen-year-old. However, there was one man who had no doubts whatsoever about what this boy would achieve. That man was one of his father Jos’ close aides.
Max’s father Jos ended his F1 career with Minardi when Paul Stoddart was the team principal. In a recent interview, Paul recalled the time when he first met Max as a kid and demanded that his father raced with him on the newly acquired simulator.

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1 Max Verstappen NLD, Oracle Red Bull Racing and his father Jos Verstappen, F1 Grand Prix of France at Circuit Paul Ricard on July 22, 2022 in Le Castellet, France. Photo by HOCH ZWEI Le Castellet France *** 1 Max Verstappen NLD, Oracle Red Bull Racing and his father Jos Verstappen, F1 Grand Prix of France at Circuit Paul Ricard on July 22, 2022 in Le Castellet, France Photo by HOCH ZWEI Le Castellet France
In Beyond the Grid Podcast, Stoddart told, “I think it was August or September 2003. We had an event in Rockingham. And we had one of the very first Formula 1 simulators that just came out at the time. Anyway, this very young, cheeky Max said to Jos: come on dad, I want a race with you in the simulator.” [Translated using Google]
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“In the end Jos gave in and drove a race with Max. Who won that race? I think Max knows that. Max won. What would Max have been then, about five or six years old? He showed very early on what he was doing.”
Jos started his F1 career with Benetton, where he partnered up with Michael Schumacher. The duo became such good friends that they often hung out and vacationed together with their families. Little would have Jos known that one day his son will draw comparisons with his teammate, who went on to achieve so much.
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When Max Verstappen was compared with the great Michael Schumacher,
Last year, with the help of the dominant car Red Bull produced, Max showed what he really was capable of. After all, winning 15 races in a season is no mean feat. Despite wrapping up the title hunt 4 races in advance, the Dutchman kept up his intensity until the last race. He won the Abu Dhabi GP with ease after leading the race for every lap.

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Bildnummer: 00850395 Datum: 29.06.2003 Copyright: imago/Hoch Zwei
Michael Schumacher (li., Deutschland / Ferrari) und Jos Verstappen (Niederlande / Minardi-Cosworth) im Gespräch; Holland, quer Großer Preis von Europa 2003, Formel 1 Weltmeisterschaft, F1, F, GP, WM, Vdig Nürburg Nürburgring Motorsport Grand Prix Herren Einzel Deutschland Gruppenbild Randmotiv Personen
Witnessing the brilliance unfold before his eyes, commentator Martin Brundle exclaimed, “This is sort of a Michael Schumacher-esque drive here from Max Verstappen. It almost looks however slow he’s driving, he’s pulling away. It just looks so casual.”
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Watch This Story: Max Verstappen Has Spent 25% of His Fortune on This Beauty – Have a Look!
The grind is back on and ‘Mad Max’ looks ready to go. After securing P1 in the first and P2 in the second race, he stands on top, one point clear of his teammate.
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