Max Verstappen’s elite mentality was already installed into him from a very young age by his father, former Formula 1 driver, Jos.
Over the last two years, Verstappen has been the driver to beat as he and Red Bull have been dominating the field.
The Dutchman is known for his fiery and no-nonsense racing style, which has sometimes attracted criticism from rival fans.
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However, Verstappen’s mentality and approach to racing were shaped by his dad, who demanded a lot from him since childhood.
According to The Sun, Verstappen’s father once left him at a gas station after an argument when he was just a teenager, on the back of a disappointing go-karting race.
After he was left there, Verstappen’s mother had to pick him up and his father didn’t speak to him for a week.
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Recalling the incident, Verstappen said, per ESPN: “My dad said, 'Stop talking, I don't want to hear anything, just sit in the back, I don't want to hear anything about it’.
“But of course, I kept on trying to have a conversation until at one point he pulled off at a fuel station and said: 'Get out. Get out and I do not want to hear you anymore'.
“So he kicked me out and he drove off ... and this is in the south of Italy.”
Verstappen added: “It was a hard lesson. But I think it was a good one at the end.”
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Whilst Jos said to the Red Bull podcast in 2020: “We drove back home, I didn't say a word to him. And the whole week after I didn't speak to him.
“Then we were sitting together, I explained to him how I felt. The whole week he didn't feel comfortable with the whole situation, but I wanted him to understand that he had to think.”
Although his methods may seem tough, the results have been great as Verstappen is currently a two time F1 world champion, whilst he is likely to clinch his third title this season.
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Not everyone will be a fan of him but one thing is for sure, Verstappen is well on his way to becoming one of the sport’s all time greats.
Topics: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Formula 1
Marcus Chan