Jos Verstappen has been recognized for his strict parenting style, which many credit for forging his son Max Verstappen into the formidable presence now known as the Max Verstappen F1 biggest beast. This parenting approach helped build the foundation for Max’s emergence as a four-time Formula 1 World Champion through intense discipline and high expectations.

Gino Rosato, a longtime Ferrari insider and close family friend, praised Jos for creating not only a fierce competitor but also a respectful and principled individual. Rosato, who is also godfather to Kimi Raikkonen’s son, highlighted Jos’s old-school methods as key to Max’s development into one of the sport’s most dominant drivers.

Examining the strict upbringing behind Max’s success

Since Max Verstappen’s debut in Formula 1, Jos has faced criticism for his tough approach toward his son’s early racing career. One widely discussed anecdote tells of young Max being left behind at a petrol station after a karting race error cost him a victory, often viewed as overly harsh parental behavior.

Jos later clarified the story’s context, explaining that he and Max had not spoken for an entire week after returning home, indicating a more complex situation than initially reported. In a documentary featuring Max’s rise, Jos confronted claims of mistreatment, stating clearly:

I never abused him, I was teaching him. I was hard on him, and that was also the plan [for him], to learn, to think. A lot of people have no idea what you have to do to arrive to the top of a sport.

This perspective frames Jos’s strictness as a deliberate strategy to prepare Max for the unforgiving nature of elite motorsport, emphasizing learning and resilience over comfort.

Friend Gino Rosato praises Jos’s old-school values and Max’s character

Rosato, who witnessed Jos’s and Max’s journey closely, described Jos as an uncompromising, honest man rooted in traditional values. He recalled the Verstappen family’s early days paddock-side and shared insights during the Pitstop podcast:

[They] were coming around [the paddock] when [Max] was young and all this… I think I remember them more than they remember me when they were young,

Rosato said.

He continued, emphasizing Jos’s integrity and fierce nature:

Jos is a pure, pure thug. Don’t f**k around with Jos. He’s a pure guy. He’s an honest guy. He’s old school, and what are you gonna tell him? ‘You did bad’?

You created the biggest beast on the face of Formula 1, or one of them, for sure. You put s**t in the garden, the flowers grow.

And he made a gentleman. He made a great driver. But with old work ethics.

This depiction underscores how Jos’s tough but principled methods cultivated Max’s blend of aggression on track and respectful demeanor off it.

The benefits of a challenging upbringing amid today’s softer parenting styles

Rosato highlighted how Jos’s insistence on pushing Max beyond his comfort zones starkly contrasts with modern parenting trends that often prioritize shielding children from hardship. He remarked:

I think this is what this world has lost a little now,

and added,

I think when I see people being parents today, they’re just babying all the time. And ‘Oh, what does he need?’

Jos doesn’t come from that school. ‘F**king figure it out. Let’s go. You want to be the best? This is what it takes’.

This mentality of demanding self-reliance and toughness contributed directly to Max’s rise as one of Formula 1’s fiercest competitors.

Understanding criticisms amid Max’s rise to dominance

Despite the success, Jos’s parenting style has drawn its fair share of criticism. Rosato explained this as a natural reaction to people at the top, saying:

When you’re on top, they’re all aiming at you. You did this. They’re all looking for their particulars,

yet he defended Max’s talent, noting,

But, let’s be honest, after Michael, he’s been the best driver hands down. But then you see them off track.

Rosato compared Max’s character to Kimi Raikkonen’s, underscoring Max’s more expressive nature:

Max is extremely similar to Kimi [Raikkonen]. He’s a bit more spicy, a bit more open-minded than he is. Kimi will suffer in silence, maybe lash out once in a while.

He went on to describe Max’s responsiveness and sincerity:

I could text Max right now, and he’s gonna answer me back within two minutes. That’s the same thing with Jos. These guys don’t come here, measuring people by the money or what you’re gonna bring them. They’re just pure nice people doing their job, creating a family story with a father helping out a kid and teaching him, ‘This is the real world’.

Insights from Max’s business manager on Jos’s role in his son’s career

Raymond Vermeulen, Max’s business manager, reflected on Jos’s strict but caring approach in the documentary “Anatomy of a Champion.” He shared:

Sometimes I said, ‘Jos, you’re from a different planet’,

to which Jos replied,

‘I know, but we have to do it like this to be successful. End of story’.

Vermeulen confirmed:

I think Jos did everything with the right intention because he knew that Max was very gifted. He did it with all the love and all the passion. And he knew that route to success was a hard route.

This endorsement portrays Jos’s tough love as motivated by belief in Max’s potential coupled with determination to prepare him for the demanding world of F1.

Max Verstappen’s public image versus his private nature

Though Max is renowned for his aggressive racing style, Jos emphasizes the gentler qualities his son possesses off the track. Jos expressed pride in Max’s balanced personality:

He is not arrogant, but direct,

acknowledging that his son’s forthrightness divides opinion within the F1 community.

Jos elaborated on the values instilled during Max’s upbringing:

Yes, always standing up for yourself was part of my upbringing. We always talk about role models for young people. I ask now: What is more of a role model? If you act behind people’s backs or openly say what you think and always stand by your personal values?

He concluded,

I can only say: How Max behaves in public, how he bluntly says his opinion – that makes me just as extremely proud of my son as his sporting successes. Many people don’t know the real Max. On the track, he is unconditionally aggressive, and he has to be.

But in private, he is a calm, extremely balanced, friendly soul. Someone who wants harmony and who listens carefully and then draws his conclusions.

This duality highlights why Max is considered both the Max Verstappen F1 biggest beast in competition and a grounded, thoughtful individual otherwise.

The lasting impact of Jos Verstappen’s parenting on Formula 1

Jos Verstappen’s firm but loving guidance has shaped Max into a driver whose success embodies resilience, skill, and character. As Max continues to compete at the highest level with multiple world championships to his name, the influence of his father’s demanding yet caring approach is evident.

Looking forward, Max’s blend of ferocity on track with gentle leadership off it may inspire new standards of professionalism and personal conduct within Formula 1. Jos’s legacy as a father extends beyond nurturing a talent; it encompasses teaching vital life lessons about facing challenges head-on and embracing authenticity.