Jos Verstappen details maturing Max approach change

Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen has insisted that his son, Max, is "old and wise enough" to make key decisions on his own.

Jos has often been by Max's side throughout the four-time world champion's F1 career, which started when the Red Bull driver was just 17 years of age. 

The 27-year-old's father played a key role in guiding him through his first seasons in F1, when criticism of being too aggressive was often directed his way. 

However, in recent seasons, Max has been left to make calls on his own on an increasing basis, with Jos taking up more rallying. 

Jos is targeting to compete in potentially 20 rally races this year, meaning Max could possibly be without his father alongside him more often than before. 

Besides rallying, the majority of Jos' time is spent travelling the world with Max, with the 52-year-old's life being all about racing. 

Jos recognises that Max no longer needs him to make key decisions, but continues to enjoy offering the reigning world champion support. 

"I'm also busy with Max, of course," Jos told the On The RallyCoffee podcast. 

"That's a little less now, but certainly at the beginning of his career I gave him direction, also in Formula 1 and that's running now. 

"He's old and wise enough to do that himself now. And I think I'm the one who still tells him honestly what's going well and what's not going well. And he appreciates that, too."

Jos continued: "I think everyone needs that a little bit. I mean, I always have his best interests at heart and of course we want to win everything. 

"That includes criticism. And besides rally, that's basically my life. Everything is about racing anyway."