Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has openly admitted that he’s more similar to his mother than his father, ex-Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen.
Jos is virtually always by the 25-year-old’s side in the garage, meaning he’s seen his son claim five victories already this season.
Verstappen is in a league of his own once again, making him the clear and obvious favourite for a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
Ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, the Red Bull star leads the standings by 53 points, putting him in a commanding position.
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He’s been unbelievably consistent this season, to the extent where he’s finished no lower than second.
Verstappen has certainly matured as a driver since he became champion at the end of 2021, following his titanic duel with Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen was often fired up and occasionally on the dirtier side of things, a trait Verstappen and Hamilton both demonstrated.
Since then though, he’s certainly become a “bit cleaner”, something he admitted recently whilst discussing his relationship with Jos.
“My sister is more like my dad and I am more like my mum, more calm. My sister is more of a strong character, fired up,” Verstappen told The Times newspaper.
“I am still aggressive but probably a bit cleaner [than my father].”
Verstappen was later asked whether himself and his father will one day race alongside each other as team-mates, in some form of endurance race, for example.
For the time being though, Jos has no intentions to return to racing.
“It seems at the moment he doesn’t really want to,” admitted the Red Bull driver.
“We are both very competitive. When we compete we want to win. My dad knows that he’s no longer how he was in his thirties.”
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Whether the pair compete alongside each other in the future remains to be seen; however, the two-time World Champion has expressed his eagerness to race in other championships.
Verstappen has previously shared his interest in competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours one day, an event he’s competed in virtually multiple times.
Perhaps Jos will join him in a future attempt to win the iconic race.