Jos: “Max always pushes for the maximum”
Published on 21 February 2017 by Mike Motilall
With only just a couple of days remaining till the start of the first test, expectations are running pretty high. The new rules, that have resulted in faster cars, will be able to stir up the pecking order. Even Jos Verstappen is eagerly looking forward to the new Formula 1-season. In a candid interview in Ziggo Sport Totaal’s Peptalk, Jos talked about the expectations and performance of his son.
“I am happy things are about to start again”, Jos commences. “It’s been a long winter for me. I am happy that we are going to Barcelona next week.”
It’s been a while since Max left his paternal home. He has been living on his own in Monaco now. A fact that hasn’t left father Jos unmoved. “I miss Max tremendously. For twelve years we have travelled and driven all over the world. Eventually he makes it into Formula 1 and you know that it will happen. And all of a sudden, it happened so fast that he is gone. He is not around anymore. He is in Monaco. So it wasn’t the most easiest of time for me.”
Nevertheless, Jos is not worried about Max: “I am not worried. Max is someone who isn’t bothered with being all by himself. He will cope. He is quite easy going and has a lot of friends in Monaco. Actually, he is doing very well.”
Due to the faster cars the coming season, the drivers are going to be challenged more physically. Max has also trained very hard over the winter to get in super shape. Something that Jos can concur: “Max was often on the couch, more dead than alive by having trained so hard. He also gained some three or four kilos, mainly muscle mass. You can clearly see it; mainly around his neck, arms and legs. He works out very hard. He needs to, because the cars are much faster now. It is thought that they might be some three seconds faster per lap, mainly in the corners. So there will be more forces working on his body.”
Of course Jos is asked about his own expectations on the coming season: “By now we know that Max always goes for the maximum”, says Jos. “You are always dependent on your car of course, but even on that I have a good feeling. Red Bull has always been quite strong regarding new rules. Aerodynamically there is much more possible, there are larger tyres. With the information gathered here and there, I have a strong feeling that it looks good.”
All in all, Jos thinks the championship is still a little too early for Max: “There is speculation that he is going to win the championship and what not. Personally, I think it is still a year too early. I am opting for 2018. I feel that the gap to Mercedes needs to get smaller. He is more experienced, knows the circuits, won a race last year and I hope that more will follow. If he would be able to win three or four more races, for me that would be great. And it is possible. The expectations are very high, that’s one thing that’s for sure.”
