Verstappen used to not realize who Schumacher was: 'Kind uncle Michael'

Max Verstappen won his first Formula 1 world title in December. F1 Insider compares the reaction of his homeland to the success in Germany when Michael Schumacher became world champion several times. Together with Verstappen, the site looks back at his time with the Schumacher family.

Even before the Dutchman won the title, he was asked about the seven-time world champion. Verstappen himself speaks German well, something that father Jos Verstappen taught him at a very young age. Through his time at Benetton, Jos became good friends with Michael Schumacher. The two families even went on vacation together.

Verstappen junior did not realize at that time who "Uncle Michael" was. "I was three or four years old at the time. I just knew it was Uncle Michael, who was very kind and he was a great family man. I never saw him as a record world champion, I didn't know that" ,says the Dutchman.

Mick and Max

Mick Schumacher was also often present. Verstappen has positive memories of those weekends together. The two Formula 1 drivers learned to play go-kart together in two-seater karts. If it became too dangerous, the fathers took over.

The one-time world champion indicates that those days were different for Mick. With a seven-time world champion as a father, there was press around him from a young age, but fortunately, he was well taken care of. "He has a nice environment and good people who care about him". says Verstappen