Max Verstappen has always had a killer attitude behind the wheel (Image: Getty)
An old viral video has resurfaced in which a young corrects a senior interviewer after beating his father, , by 26 seconds in a karting showdown.
After getting the better of his father on the racetrack, Verstappen Jnr was asked: “You finished first with a 26-second lead over your father. Nobody was expecting that, I think?”
A confident young Verstappen replied: “No, I don’t think so, but I was expecting it myself because at home the gap was even bigger! But my dad had practised in the morning when I was at school, so the gap decreased a little bit. But still, it is 26 seconds, so I said I’m not worried.”
Since making it to F1, Verstappen’s killer attitude has only stepped up. The Dutchman has gained a reputation for being one of the sport’s most aggressive drivers, and his do-or-die tactics were used to stop from mounting a serious title challenge in 2024.
Unfortunately for Verstappen, those tactics have also, at times, landed him in hot water. He picked up eight penalty points during the second half of the 2024 campaign, meaning if he receives a further four before late June, he will be slapped with a race ban that could have devastating consequences for his title hopes.
Despite the looming threat of a race ban, Verstappen has no plans to change his approach or mentality in 2025. “Well, we could discuss some of the penalties and the points for hours,” he told Swiss outlet . “Like [Fernando] Alonso, I already have eight penalty points. But that won’t change my driving style.”
Don’t miss…
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Jos Verstappen lost out to his son in a karting contest (Image: Getty)
Verstappen added: “As I said, I won’t change my driving style because of that. I know when I’ve gone too far. Like in the finale in Abu Dhabi when I attacked [Oscar] Piastri at the start. I had no problem apologizing to the Australian after the race.”
While controversial, Verstappen’s ultra-aggressive driving was ultimately successful, costing Norris key points in Austria, Texas, and Mexico City, among other races. In fact, other F1 stars are looking to adopt a similar approach off the back of his success.
More F1… [DRAMA] [COMMENT]
“You’ve got to pick your battles, and I feel like Max knows how to adapt to different situations, and we’ve seen it [in 2024],” Charles Leclerc told . “There were moments where he was not aggressive, but when the end of the season arrived, and Lando was coming back there, you could see him play with the rules a lot more.
“And I feel like I’ve got that in me. I know that whenever big things will be at stake, when it will be the moment to take those risks with the right people, I’ll go for it. But that’s also why I’ve always enjoyed racing with Max, the mentality of the driver is a big part.”