Verstappen looks back with a laugh: 'Wants to hit my helmet sometimes'

The Verstappen family has finally achieved their big goal: Max Verstappen is a world champion in Formula 1. His mentor was father Jos Verstappen, but the learning process was not always easy.

After several dominant seasons by Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, it seemed at the beginning of the season that they would be dominant again, but in the end the 2021 Formula One season ended very differently. The season consisted of a title fight and rivalry, but in the end Verstappen crossed the finish line as the winner.

Now that the Dutchman is finally world champion, the family's mission is complete. The 24-year-old driver's entire upbringing consisted of racing, and his father played a big part in that. Yet winning was not always the most important thing. A second place was also okay for the former Formula 1 driver, but only if he'd given everything: "As soon as he saw that I was not giving 100 percent, he would get really angry. He would invest his money to get me into Formula 1 and therefore he expected me to give everything", the Limburger tells Autobild.

Slapping the helmet helped

The Red Bull Racing driver can remember one moment very well. He did not feel like driving, but Verstappen senior did not accept that and slapped him on his helmet. Verstappen had to change that attitude or they would drive right back home. He then took pole and won the semi-final and finals. "Sometimes he still asks me now, as a joke, if he should hit my helmet again to make me go faster."