Jos Verstappen reveals 'truth' over Max abandonment story

Jos Verstappen has revealed the "truth" over rumours that he abandoned Max Verstappen at a petrol station as a child. 

The former F1 driver was widely reported of having left his son at a petrol station when the four-time world champion was a teenager, following an argument. 

Keen to teach Max a lesson whilst driving back from the south of Italy, Jos dropped the Red Bull driver off and drove away, a story which was confirmed by the 27-year-old

Speaking in 2022, Max confirmed that it did happen, with the cause of the argument having been a mistake he had made which resulted in losing a karting race.

"I basically threw everything away," Max told ESPN in 2022. "Of course, I was very sad and upset with myself for making that mistake. 

"I then started to try to talk to him afterwards in the van, trying to travel home for 17 hours. He didn’t want to talk to me. 

"At one point, he was just so fed up with it and said: ‘Get out’. He stopped at the fuel station. He was like: ‘You get out’. And then he drove off."

No Max regrets

The incident triggered question marks over Max and Jos' relationship and how the reigning champion was brought up.

However, Jos' parenting style has always been defended by his son, with it having prepared him for life at Red Bull.

This is a point raised by Jos himself, who believes the way Max was brought up prepared him for how to deal with people like Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

Something the 52-year-old insists he did not do, though, was leave Max behind at a petrol station, a story he has claimed is not true after all.

"I think it's time to clear up that story," Jos told F1-Insider. "The truth is: I didn't leave him there. I just didn't speak to him for a week.

"Was that too harsh? Not according to Max. He felt that my attitude had prepared him better for Formula 1.

"That's why dealing with Helmut Marko, who is also known as an extremely tough guy, didn't bother him anymore.

"He also appreciates the fact that we kept training with the kart on dry tyres on a wet track. I only sense gratitude from him when it comes to his childhood with me."