Breaking: Jos Verstappen Reveals Why He Didn't Congratulate his Son Max Verstappen after his Fourth....

Jos Verstappen Reveals Why He Didn’t Congratulate Max in Person After Fourth World Title

Max Verstappen clinched his fourth Formula 1 world championship title at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, securing victory ahead of Lando Norris on the famous Las Vegas strip. While many congratulated Max on his monumental achievement, one notable absence was his father, Jos Verstappen. Speaking to Viaplay, Jos explained why he deliberately chose not to attend the celebrations in person. He also reflected on the past season and shared his thoughts on Max’s future in the sport.

Jos, a former F1 driver himself, revealed that his decision to stay away from Las Vegas was primarily due to health concerns. “I wasn’t feeling so well,” he told the Swedish streaming platform. “I have a bit of flu and didn’t want to risk passing it on to Max. It’s better to be safe in that situation.” Jos added that the time difference also played a role in his decision, making it difficult for him to coordinate traveling and fully participating in the celebrations.

In addition to these factors, Jos had other commitments that required his focus. “I have another race myself this weekend, so I had to prepare for that as well,” he mentioned, highlighting his active involvement in racing. Despite not being there physically, Jos made it clear that his absence was purely circumstantial and not a reflection of any lack of support for his son’s achievement.

Looking back on Max’s performance this season, Jos acknowledged the uncertainty he felt about his son’s chances early on. “Max had a decent lead in the drivers’ championship, but whether he could maintain that depended a lot on how well the car would develop over the season,” he admitted. Even Jos, with all his experience in the sport, had doubts. However, he praised Max’s skill and determination, particularly pointing to his dominant race in Brazil as a key moment in securing the championship. “What Max showed in Brazil was really extraordinary. That race was one of the defining moments that helped him seal the title,” Jos stated.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix marked the moment Max officially became a four-time world champion, a dream that Jos had never imagined would come true when his son first started in motorsports. “It’s something we could only dream of when he was in karting,” Jos reminisced. “Getting from karting to Formula 1 is such a difficult step, and back then, we just hoped he might one day win a race. To now think he has four championships is beyond what we ever dared to dream.”

Despite the excitement of this achievement, Jos remains realistic about the future. He expressed uncertainty about Max’s ability to secure a fifth title in the coming season, given the current performance of Red Bull’s car. “They’re not driving the fastest car at the moment, and if they were, Max would be winning more races,” Jos observed. “There will need to be improvements for the team to be competitive again.”

Nevertheless, Jos has full confidence in Max’s ability to handle these challenges. “It’s another example of how well Max deals with adversity and how strong he is as a driver,” he concluded. Even with uncertainties surrounding the next season, Jos remains proud of his son’s accomplishments and optimistic about what lies ahead.

While Jos wasn’t there to celebrate Max’s fourth title in person, his pride and admiration for his son’s success are evident. Both Verstappens have overcome significant challenges to reach this point, and regardless of what the future holds, their bond and shared passion for racing continue to drive them forward.