Max Verstappen gives honest verdict on father Jos’ ‘harsh’ treatment

Max Verstappen makes subtle dig at Lewis Hamilton in April

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Max Verstappen has revealed he “needed” dad Jos’ “harsh” treatment growing up to achieve his potential. Verstappen stressed the experience made him “a lot more on it” and professional in F1 as he defended his father’s actions.

The Dutchman accepted he was “very happy” to be pushed by his dad just weeks on from becoming a two-time F1 champion. He made the admission while opening up on the time Jos left a young Max at a garage after losing a race.

Verstappen said he had misjudged an overtake and crashed out, which cost him a chance of securing the title in a junior karting decider. He admitted Jos was “so angry” and demanded Max kept quiet on the journey home.

However, Verstappen said he kept talking in a bid to explain why he had made the move and not waited for a better chance at getting through. Speaking to GQ, Verstappen added: “I kept trying to get into a conversation with him about why I did it and what I thought of the situation.

“But then at one point he was like, ‘Max, if you don’t shut up now I’m kicking you out.’ And, of course, I didn’t think he would do that. So I kept on talking, trying to talk to him. Next fuel station he stops and he’s like, ‘Get out!’. I mean, it sounds horrible. Like, it sounds a bit horrible. Like, some people probably cannot deal with that kind of behaviour, but I needed it.

“I was that type of character, probably, who needed this kind of treatment. Of course, from the outside it sounds sometimes a bit harsh. But I’m very happy that I had that kind of treatment.

“I was just a lot more on it, in terms of just being more professional about it. That definitely came from my dad, because if he wasn’t my dad, I would also be running around, playing, having fun. And I need that kind of push.”

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Jos defended his actions after Max beat Lewis Hamilton to secure his first world title last season. He explained: “I do not say that I immediately had all wisdom, but I have become wise through trial and error. I was working on it seven days a week, at least twelve hours a day. It felt like a hobby, but I still wanted to win everything.

“We now know what we did it for.”

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