Jos Verstappen believes that the relationship between his son, Max Verstappen, and Michael Schumacher had a measurable impact on the Dutchman’s success as a driver.
Verstappen Snr was one of three drivers to partner Schumacher at Benetton during the 1994 season, alongside Finnish racer JJ Lehto and Brit Johnny Herbert. Despite starting just 10 Grands Prix that year, the two drivers struck up a close friendship, and when his son was born, the legendary German was a pivotal figure in his development.
Speaking to F1 Insider about his relationship with Schumacher, Verstappen Snr said: “[It was] always good. He tried hard, even after his career. We often went karting with our children, Mick and Max.
“Michael didn’t differentiate between Max and Mick. If he had something to say, he told them both. It’s quite possible that Max also benefited from these experiences. Max has a lot in common with Michael: uncompromising on the racetrack but kind, sensitive and caring as a private person.”
Schumacher’s unrelenting passion for racing rubbed off on the young Verstappen, who in 2025 will be looking to match the 56-year-old’s record of winning five consecutive Drivers’ Championship titles.
Verstappen Jnr is starting to close in on Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton at the top of the F1 record books after dominant title-winning seasons in 2022 and 2023 and a hard-fought fourth Drivers’ Championship triumph in 2024.
Despite watching his son close out the 2024 title in style, Verstappen Snr is not optimistic that the Red Bull star will add a fifth trophy to his cabinet this year. The Milton Keynes squad ended the last campaign third in the Constructors’ Championship with just two wins from the final 14 events.
“I’m a little doubtful,” he confessed. “Red Bull needs to build a car that is more predictable in all conditions. Looking at the second half of 2024, you can’t be optimistic. Red Bull just hasn’t managed to make the car consistently fast, so why should that be the case this year?”
Verstappen Jnr has two major challengers in the fight to defend his crown with McLaren and Ferrari the standout title contenders in the eyes of most onlookers. The former are the reigning champions, while the latter have bolstered their driver line-up, bringing in seven-time champion Hamilton to partner Charles Leclerc.
