Max Verstappen, the reigning back-to-back world champion and dominant points leader in the 2023 season, shared an emotional insight into his dream teammate choice, evoking a powerful response from Formula 1 enthusiasts.
The Dutch Grand Prix, taking place in front of his home crowd, provided the perfect backdrop for Verstappen to pay homage to a pivotal figure in his life.
Having grown up alongside Mick Schumacher and his legendary seven-time champion father, Michael Schumacher, Verstappen has had several motorsport idols.
Additionally, his admiration for two-time champion Fernando Alonso, who has enjoyed a resurgence with Aston Martin, is widely known.
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Nevertheless, when asked about his dream teammate in Formula 1, Verstappen took an unconventional path, revealing, “For me personally, dream team, if I could choose and could bring people back to their normal racing age it would be my dad.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Verstappen elaborated, “For me personally, that’s my dream team, his career didn’t go to plan and I think he had a lot of potential.”
Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, has been a constant presence in the Formula 1 paddock during Grand Prix weekends.
Emotions ran high when Max clinched the Netherlands’ first world title in 2021, and the profound impact of their relationship was evident.
Jos Verstappen participated in eight F1 seasons from 1994 to 2003, partnering with Michael Schumacher during his debut season with Benetton.
Reflecting on his father’s career trajectory, Max Verstappen acknowledged his father’s potential, saying, “He knew what went wrong and he knew that it was very important to have the right people around you from a young age, to be guided in the right way and I think that’s what he did with me.”
Max further emphasised the significance of his father’s influence in preparing him for various scenarios, underlining the importance of nurturing talent from a young age.
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Jos Verstappen’s own F1 journey yielded moments of promise, including two podium finishes and partnering with Michael Schumacher at Benetton.
While he did not achieve the same level of success as his son, Max’s sentiments about his father’s dedication and mentorship resonate deeply.
Jos Verstappen’s professional experience laid the foundation for Max’s remarkable career, resulting in Max’s unprecedented accomplishments decades later.