2X WDC champion Max Verstappen is a force to be reckoned with. He has 36 victories under his belt along with 21 pole positions. He was the youngest driver ever to pilot a car and also to win a Grand Prix, breaking Sebastian Vettel’s records. To obtain such accords, one has to be both extremely talented and well-schooled in the sport.
Max Verstappen has a racing pedigree, and both of his parents have a racing background. His father, Jos Verstappen was a successful Formula 1 driver and his mother Sophie Kumpen has competed in karting and GT racing in the past.
Max Verstappen’s father
Jos Verstappen is a former Dutch racing driver who competed in a number of motorsport categories, including Formula 1, Le Mans, and touring cars. Verstappen began his automobile racing journey in karting, where he emerged as a karting winner before moving up to Formula Ford in the early 1990s. In this tournament, he quickly distinguished himself, recording the Dutch championship in 1991 and finishing runner-up in the European championship the following year.
Verstappen made his Formula 1 debut with the Benetton team in 1994, replacing the injured JJ Lehto. He finished in the points in his first race and went on to get a full-time drive with the team for the following season. The time he spent with Benetton, however, was marred by an array of blunders and reliability issues, and he was let go halfway through the 1996 season.
Verstappen subsequently joined the Arrows, where he turned in some of the finest endeavors of his career. In the 1994 Hungarian Grand Prix, he achieved his first podium result, and he went on to finish in the top six in several races over the next few seasons. Verstappen continued competing in other series after abandoning Formula 1, such as Le Mans, and touring cars. In 2008, he won the LMP2 class at Le Mans and came third overall in 2009. He took part in the Dutch touring car championship.
Jos Verstappen getting caught up in the Sergio Perez celebrations 😅 pic.twitter.com/R8vXNNQ4Cw
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) March 19, 2023
Verstappen gained notoriety on the track for his speed and ferocity, in addition to his occasionally reckless racing style. He was also one of the most popular drivers of his era, particularly in his home country of the Netherlands, where he remains a well-known and admired character in motorsport.
Max Verstappen’s mother
Sophie Kumpen is a retired Belgian racing driver who excelled in a range of motorsport sports. Kumpen began her career in karting, where she won multiple national and foreign championships. She then moved to car racing, where she participated in a number of competitions such as Formula Renault, Formula Three, and GT racing.
Kumpen’s most significant accomplishment was her victory in the Belgian GT Championship in a Chrysler Viper in 2004. She also participated in the FIA GT Championship, where she finished in the top ten in several events. Kumpen then concentrated on endurance racing, taking part in events like the 24 Hours of Spa and the 24 Hours of Zolder. She also participated in the Le Mans Series, placing second in the LMP2 class at the 1000km of Spa in 2008.
Kumpen has worked in driver education and management in addition to her racing career. She coached her son, Maxime Martin, who is an accomplished GT driver and has worked with younger drivers in the Belgian karting competition.
Kumpen gained notoriety for her speed and resolve on the track, in addition to her mechanical expertise as well as her attention to detail, throughout her career. She was also a female racing pioneer, clearing the way for generations to come of female drivers. She continues to serve as an instructor and mentor, and she is an ardent advocate for equality and inclusion in sports.
Live #F1 News – F1 champion Max Verstappen’s mother accuses Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez of cheating on his wife https://t.co/pFSMxQXw0s
— Live F1 News (@LiveF1News) November 16, 2022
It is safe to say that Max grew up with motorsport around him all the time. Jos Verstappen has been Max’s coach and mentor since he started karting. He guided Max to sharpen his skills and technique. Jos has been seen being very supportive of max but in his defense, Max said “He just wants to see me win”.
Formula 1 is an expensive sport, and Verstappen’s parents have invested both their time and money to bring him up to such potential. Max Verstappen has been outspoken about the support he received from his family and has mentioned that they have been there for him in all ups and downs of his career.