Max Verstappen and his father share a very close relationship that dates back to the former’s karting days. His dad, Jos Verstappen helped young Max climb through the ranks of junior racing categories and ultimately make it to Formula 1. Verstappen often credits his dad for the success he has achieved today. Fernando Alonso, on the other hand, talks about how his father doesn’t have any racing talent or knowledge but helped him develop skills in other aspects of life.
The 2023 Canadian GP’s final podium featured three F1 legends in Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton. During the post-race press conference, journalists asked them about their respective fathers, and how they helped them in their journey to success.
Verstappen, of course, had a lot to say about his father, Jos. Although his parenting style has often been criticized for being harsh, Verstappen himself feels that he wouldn’t have become a two-time world champion had it not been for his dad.
Hamilton, meanwhile, talked about the sacrifices his father, Anthony, made to see him reach the pinnacle of motorsports. He recalled how hard it was for his father to support his racing career, and said that he wants to be like him in the future. Alonso’s recollection of his childhood with his dad, however, was very different.
Fernando Alonso and his relationship with his father
Fernando Alonso’s father, José Luis Alonso was a mechanic. Growing up, his father wanted him to have a hobby, so he introduced a young Alonso to karting. However, as Alonso said in the interview, his father never saw him becoming a professional racing driver, unlike Verstappen and Hamilton’s dads.
“He didn’t have the vision of being a professional driver when I was a kid,” said Alonso as reported by Crash. “Yes, I was racing in go-karts and in different things. But he was just thinking that that will end soon. And, you know, my life will be completely opposite to professional sport.”
Alonso went on to say that he doesn’t credit his father for the success he has achieved in the sport today. However, he does hail him for teaching him other important things in life. The 41-year-old said, “My father is different, he has no talent at all to drive. He taught me and educated me in different ways and more for different things in life.”
Hamilton, Alonso, and Verstappen make up a decorated podium
Verstappen, Hamilton, and Alonso have a combined total of 11 world championships and 176 F1 race victories among them. They finished top three in Montreal, and the podium celebration was one to behold. In addition to the three great drivers, we also had the great Adrian Newey on the podium. Newey is one of the brightest minds to ever work in F1.
Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso and Newey…
This podium is F1 heritage 🤩 pic.twitter.com/1XGWNZskb8
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) June 18, 2023
Many people were awe-inspired at how glittering the podium was. Even Hamilton, who has been on the podium more times than anyone else in F1 history, felt that the top three in Canada was the best ever, and something that he’s unsure has ever happened before.
A battle between Verstappen, Hamilton, and Alonso will be a treat for F1 fans, and they will be hoping for one at the Austrian GP, which is where the traveling circus visits next, in one week’s time.
