Project Chintan

Jos Verstappen Forecasts Future Beyond F1 for Four-Time Champion Max Verstappen

Jos Verstappen expects his son to exit Formula 1 within the next decade to pursue other endurance racing goals. The former driver suggests Max Verstappen's future championship success depends entirely on vehicle competitiveness.

· 2 min read
Updated

Key takeaways

  • Jos Verstappen predicts Max will exit Formula 1 before 2035 to focus on other racing categories.
  • Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans is cited as a major career objective for Verstappen post-F1.
  • The driver's camp believes future championship wins depend primarily on the technical performance of his car.

What Happened

Jos Verstappen has stated that he does not expect his son, four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, to be competing in the top flight of open-wheel racing in ten years' time. Speaking to the publication AutoHebdo, the elder Verstappen indicated that while his son likely will continue racing through 2035 and beyond, he anticipates a transition away from the Grand Prix circuit toward endurance events.

Max Verstappen, currently 28, has previously expressed reluctance to follow the career trajectory of drivers like Fernando Alonso, who remain in the sport past the age of 40. The Red Bull Racing driver has indicated his willingness to depart the sport if he perceives it is moving in a negative direction. His manager, Raymond Vermeulen, recently noted that Verstappen’s rise significantly revitalized interest in Formula 1 within the Netherlands following a period of limited success for Dutch drivers.

Future Objectives

According to his father, a primary goal for the younger Verstappen outside of Formula 1 is a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jos Verstappen noted that the current Balance of Performance regulations in endurance racing make such a victory difficult to achieve due to the closely matched nature of the field.

Regarding further success within Formula 1, Jos Verstappen maintained that his son has already exceeded initial expectations. He suggested that additional world titles remain possible but are contingent upon the quality of the machinery provided by the team rather than driver skill alone.

Key Facts

  • Max Verstappen is currently 28 years old and holds four Formula 1 World Championships.
  • Jos Verstappen, aged 54, competed in Formula 1 previously for teams including Benetton.
  • The Verstappen camp identifies the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a specific future target.
  • Manager Raymond Vermeulen credits Verstappen with ending a "winter sleep" for the sport's popularity in the Netherlands.
  • Max Verstappen recently provided a technical analysis of his qualifying laps at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit from 2021 and 2025.

Sources reviewed

Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.

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