Max Verstappen, a Dutch racing driver and a child prodigy in motorsport, humorously teased his father, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, claiming he had surpassed him after winning his third karting championship at the age of 16. Max had an exceptional rise in motorsport, dominating junior categories before making his debut in Formula 1 at just 17. His skill in single-seaters became evident when he finished third in the F3 championship on his first attempt in 2014.
In a resurfaced interview from social media, Verstappen was asked whether he believed he was better than his father at the age of 16. Jos had raced for prominent teams like Benetton in F1, and the interviewer wanted to know if Max had ever pointed out this comparison to him. Max responded, “Actually, it was my father who brought it up first. When I became the European [karting] champion for the first time, he mentioned how he had won the European Championship twice in one year. I took that as a challenge and aimed to do better. When I won my second European Championship, I went up to him and said, ‘Now we’re even.’ Later, when I won the World Championship, I approached him again and said, ‘Now I’m better than you over a full year.'”
Max also recounted his early desire to start karting at four years old. Initially, his father Jos turned him down, telling him he needed to grow up a bit more. However, after six months of persistent requests, and with support from his mother, Jos agreed to buy him a go-kart. Max recalled the moment, saying, “I saw a kid younger than me driving a mini-kart, and I wanted to do the same. After months of insisting, I finally got my first kart.”
Unlike many parents who push their children into activities, Max’s parents took a more hands-off approach, allowing him to explore his own interest. When they realized how much he loved racing, they supported him in improving his skills. Max acknowledges how fortunate he was, as racing was also a passion for his parents.
Verstappen’s exceptional talent in racing has been recognized by many, including three-time world champion Niki Lauda, who famously called him the “talent of the century.” Lauda was particularly impressed by Verstappen’s defense against Kimi Raikkonen in Spain in 2016, where Max secured his first Formula 1 victory. Lauda again expressed his admiration later that year in Brazil, praising the then-19-year-old for his impressive driving in the rain.
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