Because Jos Verstappen made some unfortunate decisions in his own Formula 1 career, these mistakes will not be repeated with son Max, according to Helmut Marko.
Jos Verstappen’s great Formula 1 career was always denied a win. The Dutchman completed 106 races in the premier class. However, he did not achieve more than two podium places during this time. Helmut Marko believes that his son Max is benefiting from precisely these lack of successes from his father.
“You have to see it from the start. His father Jos was a successful Formula 1 driver, a quick one,” explains Marko on “ServusTV”. However, Verstappen Senior made “a few mistakes” when making decisions in his career. “He built his son up with all this knowledge, avoiding any mistakes,” says Marko.
What the Austrian means specifically: Jos Verstappen lost his position on his Formula 1 debut in the 1994 season. At Benetton he was thrown into the deep end at the side of high-flyer Michael Schumacher and, unsurprisingly, saw no country against the eventual record world champion in his first Formula 1 year.
Max Verstappen’s career planning in Formula 1 “worked out”
The later team changes were not crowned with success either. In 1995 he drove for Simtek, but after five races of the season the backbencher locked up for financial reasons. Further engagements at Footwork, Tyrrell, Stewart, Arrows and Minardi followed. Verstappen never made it to a top team again after the brief Benetton stint.
According to Marko, his own mistakes helped Verstappen to plan his son’s career much better. Max was built up for a year at Toro Rosso in 2015 before being promoted to Red Bull during the current 2016 season. He has been loyal to his current employer ever since, becoming world champion for the first time in 2021.
“It worked out”, Marko praises Jos Verstappen’s career planning for his son and explains that they have “gradually worked towards” the World Cup title, which has now been “the culmination” of years of work. “Max did it optimally”, praises the Austrian also Verstappen Junior.
Max Verstappen at Red Bull forever?
Incidentally, working with Jos Verstappen was not always easy. “It was a bit difficult at the beginning, but then he took a back seat,” smiles Marko, who explains that behind the scenes at Red Bull things are now “harmonious” with the entire Verstappen family.
That should also be a reason why Max Verstappen is currently not wasting any thought on leaving Red Bull. Immediately after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, he declared that he would like to drive for the bulls for “ten or 15 years”. “I am very happy where I am now,” he clarifies again.
Verstappen’s current Red Bull contract runs until the end of 2023. However, Marko recently revealed to ‘Motorsport-Total.com’ that it could be extended ahead of time – possibly this winter.
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