Max Verstappen is known for his aggressive driving style and being short-tempered while out on track. This has been evident during the several hard-fought battles we have seen the young Dutchman be a part of to date. Much of the credit for this behavior goes to his father Jos Verstappen. However, there was a time when the star F1 driver believed that he does not emulate his father’s behavioral characteristics, as said by him in a Red Bull Motorsport video on Facebook.
Interestingly, it is not just Verstappen and his father who are known for their aggression on the track. The Red Bull star’s mother, Sophie Kumpen also has her own record of being ultra-aggressive while racing. Kumpen was a force to reckon with in the karting circuit, and admitted once, that she too was extremely aggressive.
Furthermore, Verstappen Sr. also has ample records of being very extremely controversial and dangerous away from the track. From fracturing a man’s skull after an altercation to threatening Verstappen’s mother, the man knew no bounds. However, for the two-time world champion, he did not belong here.
Max Verstappen said he is calm, despite his father’s appraisal
Talking about his son’s aggression, Verstappen Sr. wholeheartedly praised it. He also shed light on their great relationship when young Max was growing up, particularly because they spent so much time together. He said that they were not just fathers and sons, but friends.
Talking about Verstappen’s fierceness, he stated that his demeanor is actually good when he has the helmet on. Contradicting that, Max Verstappen said, “I think I’m just a bit calmer in the race, and in general in life. I’m a bit calmer.”
However, it is understandable that the fierceness that the 25-year-old has is clearly from his father. Interestingly, the Dutch driver once admitted to it that he got everything from his father, but he is a bit cleaner than he was.
Hamilton contradicted Verstappen on aggression
While Max Verstappen once labeled himself as calm, Lewis Hamilton was not ready to see eye to eye on the matter with him. In fact, he called the Dutchman “aggressive as hell” that too in front of the media.
During Season 4 of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, the seven-time world champion said to his Red Bull rival as per Business Insider, “I think Max is aggressive as hell. And more often than not, he pushes it to the limit and beyond.”
Furthermore, he also hinted that the 25-year-old is more of a bully. Admittedly, Hamilton was talking about Verstappen’s antics during the 2021 F1 season, when the two of them went toe to toe with one another throughout the season.
