Jos Verstappen
Jos Verstappen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Johannes Franciscus Verstappen March 4, 1972 Dutch Limburg, Netherlands |
| Occupation(s) | Motorsport competitor (racing and rallying) |
| Years active | 1994–2003 (Formula One) |
| Known for | Formula One racing driver, European Rally Championship competitor |
Johannes Franciscus "Jos" Verstappen (born 4 March 1972) is a Dutch motorsport competitor specializing in racing and rallying, currently participating as a private entrant in the European Rally Championship. His Formula One career spanned from 1994 until 2003.
Originating from Dutch Limburg, Verstappen started karting at the age of eight and by 1989 had secured two Karting European Championship titles. He advanced through various junior racing categories, capturing the Benelux Formula Opel Lotus Championship and the EFDA Nations Cup in 1992. The following year, he won both the German Formula Three championship and the prestigious Masters of Formula 3 event.
In 1994, Verstappen joined Benetton as a test driver and made his Formula One race debut that same year, stepping in for JJ Lehto. During his rookie season, he achieved two podium finishes, notably becoming the first Dutch driver to earn a podium spot in F1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix. His career included seasons with Simtek (1995), Footwork (1996), Tyrrell (1997), Stewart (1998), and a testing role with Honda (1999). He competed with Arrows from 2000 to 2001 and concluded his F1 tenure driving for Minardi in 2003.
After leaving Formula One, Verstappen represented Team Netherlands in A1 Grand Prix, winning the feature race in South Africa during the 2005–06 season. In endurance racing, he secured victory at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans and claimed the LMP2 class title in the Le Mans Series with Van Merksteijn Motorsport. His rallying pursuits include participation in events such as the 2022 Ypres Rally and ongoing involvement in the European Rally Championship since 2025.
Since 2002, Verstappen has been instrumental in managing and mentoring his son Max Verstappen from karting through to achieving four Formula One World Championships. Max’s accomplishments have brought renewed public interest to Jos, who has also faced multiple assault allegations over the past twenty years.
Early career
Beginning his karting journey at eight years old, Verstappen rapidly progressed to national-level competitions, earning the Dutch junior championship title by 1984. In 1989, he distinguished himself by winning two classes at the Karting European Championships—a feat later equaled by his son Max in 2013.
Transitioning to car racing near the end of 1991, Verstappen competed in Formula Opel Lotus and won the European championship during his first season. He then advanced to Formula Three with Van Amersfoort Racing, a team recognized for nurturing talents such as Christijan Albers and Tom Coronel. During Europe’s off-season, he competed in New Zealand’s Formula Atlantic series. In German Formula Three competition, Verstappen secured multiple international victories including triumphs at the Marlboro Masters and ultimately claimed the German Formula Three championship in 1993.
1994: Benetton
Verstappen’s initial experience testing a Formula One car came in September 1993 at Estoril with Footwork Arrows. Despite transitioning from less powerful Formula Three machinery, he impressed by delivering competitive lap times. Following this test, nearly every F1 team except Ferrari and Williams expressed interest in him, which led to his appointment as Benetton’s test driver for the 1994 campaign.
After JJ Lehto suffered an injury before the season started, Verstappen made his race debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix alongside Michael Schumacher. Although involved in a dramatic crash during this event, he emerged uninjured. He participated in the first two races before Lehto returned; however, after Lehto’s underwhelming performances, Verstappen was reinstated following the Canadian Grand Prix.
A notable incident occurred at the German Grand Prix when a fuel leak during a pit stop caused flames to engulf Verstappen’s car. He sustained only minor burns and escaped serious harm. This accident led to enhancements in fuel system safety protocols.
Verstappen’s standout results during his debut season included two podium finishes: third place at Hungary—where Schumacher allowed him to unlap himself—and another third place at Belgium after Schumacher’s disqualification. He also achieved fifth place in Portugal. Additionally, a significant crash during practice for the French Grand Prix resulted in damage to television equipment and prompted improved trackside safety measures.
For the closing two races of 1994, Benetton replaced Verstappen with Johnny Herbert as part of their effort to strengthen their bid for the Constructors' Championship. Although ultimately falling short against Williams, Herbert was retained for the following season over Verstappen.
1995: Simtek
In , Verstappen was loaned to Simtek by Benetton team boss Flavio Briatore. Although he showed potential, such as running sixth at the Argentine Grand Prix before a problematic pit stop and gearbox failure, he managed to finish only one out of five races due to mechanical problems. After the Monaco Grand Prix, the financially struggling Simtek team declared bankruptcy. Without a racing position, Verstappen took on test driving duties for Benetton and Ligier, which was partially owned by Briatore and Tom Walkinshaw. However, Briatore opted not to retain Verstappen for 1996, choosing instead to sign Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger.
1996: Footwork Arrows
In , Verstappen competed for Footwork. He was running fifth at the Interlagos race before retiring, and secured sixth place at the Buenos Aires event. Shortly afterward, the team was taken over by Walkinshaw's TWR. During the Belgian Grand Prix, a suspension failure caused a severe crash that resulted in a lengthy neck injury. Initially considered essential to Walkinshaw's 1997 plans—with warnings that a pay driver might replace him if he declined—Verstappen was eventually dropped when 1996 World Champion Damon Hill became available. His results declined in the latter half of the season as TWR concentrated on developing their 1997 car.
1997: Tyrrell
In , Verstappen signed with the Tyrrell team but did not earn any championship points, despite briefly running in fifth place at the Canadian Grand Prix. The team faced challenges with an underpowered Ford Cosworth EDV V8 engine and limited financial resources, leaving both Verstappen and teammate Mika Salo towards the rear of the grid. His top result was eighth position at the rain-affected Monaco Grand Prix. Prior to 1998, Tyrrell was acquired by British American Tobacco, which intended to rebrand as British American Racing in 1999. Although Ken Tyrrell wished to retain Verstappen alongside Toranosuke Takagi, BAR insisted on hiring pay driver Ricardo Rosset, prompting Tyrrell’s exit and handing team leadership to Dr. Harvey Postlethwaite.
1998: Stewart
Without a full-time seat in 1998, Verstappen resumed testing for Benetton early in the year but was not signed due to sponsorship shortfalls. As a quick free agent, he was frequently linked as a candidate to replace underperforming drivers. He made a return at the French Grand Prix, stepping in for Jan Magnussen at Stewart. However, the car lacked competitiveness, and Stewart struggled to achieve consistent results between its two drivers. With Johnny Herbert confirmed alongside Rubens Barrichello for 1999, Verstappen found himself searching for another opportunity.
1999: Honda
Towards the end of 1998, Verstappen joined the new Honda Formula One project as a test driver, working alongside former Tyrrell colleagues Rupert Manwaring and Harvey Postlethwaite. The team aimed to enter competition in 2000, with testing indicating promising performance compared to midfield teams like Benetton and Williams. After Postlethwaite’s passing and Honda’s decision to switch from running a full team to supplying engines only, Verstappen lost his chance at a race seat. He also tested for Jordan late in the season as a potential replacement for Damon Hill; however, Hill completed the year and Verstappen’s testing results were not compelling enough.
2000–2001: Rejoining Arrows
In , Verstappen made his way back to Arrows, which provided a package that included Supertec engines, a chassis notable for its strong performance on straights, and several sponsors. Although the car suffered from reliability problems, its pace enabled Verstappen and teammate Pedro de la Rosa to challenge leading competitors at various tracks. The design featured a small fuel tank, often resulting in a weight advantage. At the Interlagos event, Verstappen was running in 6th place before spinning out, affected by neck pain due to limited recent seat time. During the changeable weather conditions at the 2000 Canadian Grand Prix, he delivered an impressive drive to finish 5th, marking his first points since 1996. After first-corner collisions at the Austrian GP, both drivers performed well but ultimately retired because of mechanical failures. Verstappen added another points finish with a strong 4th place at Monza.
For the 2001 season, Arrows kept Verstappen and switched from Supertec to Asiatech engines. Meanwhile, Red Bull-backed rookie Enrique Bernoldi replaced de la Rosa. The car demonstrated improved reliability and competitiveness, although Verstappen frequently qualified behind Bernoldi. Key moments included climbing to 2nd place at Sepang after starting from 18th on the grid and securing the team's only point of the year by finishing 6th at the A1-Ring. At Interlagos, Verstappen collided with race leader Juan Pablo Montoya while being lapped, and at Montreal, he was running inside the top six before retiring due to brake failure.
Although contracted for 2002, Verstappen was replaced late in that season by Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Later in the year, a potential test role with Sauber did not materialize because Verstappen's physical size was incompatible with the smaller dimensions of the car.
2003: Minardi
In 2003, Verstappen returned to Formula One driving for Paul Stoddart’s European Minardi team, which was known for its limited budget and less powerful engines. The season offered few standout performances; his best result was 9th place at the 2003 Canadian Grand Prix, narrowly missing out on points under the updated scoring system. At the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, he ran ahead of eventual winner Giancarlo Fisichella before spinning on standing water. Throughout the year, Verstappen was generally outpaced by rookie teammate Justin Wilson. Notably, during the French Grand Prix qualifying sessions, he achieved Minardi’s only provisional pole position in a wet first session but ended up qualifying at the back of the grid after the dry second session. Frustrated with consistently competing near the rear of the field, Verstappen departed Minardi at season’s end.
Without a seat for 2004, Verstappen was considered mid-season as a replacement option for Jordan but could not fit in their car and began seeking opportunities outside Formula One.
Across his career, Verstappen entered 107 Grands Prix, earning two podium finishes and accumulating 17 championship points (117 when adjusted for today’s scoring system), making him the second most successful Dutch F1 driver after his son Max. His best qualifying result was 6th place at the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix.
A1 Grand Prix
Following a two-year break, Verstappen made a comeback in July as the driver for A1 Team Netherlands, which was overseen by seat holder Jan Lammers's outfit Racing for Holland, competing in the A1 Grand Prix series. The squad secured victory in the feature race held at Durban.
On 27 September 2006, Verstappen ended his association with A1 Team Netherlands due to the team's inability to provide payment assurances, after delays in settling fees for the 2005/06 season. His position was taken over by Jeroen Bleekemolen for the opening race of the 2006/07 season at their home venue, Zandvoort.
Le Mans Series
In December 2007, Verstappen declared his intention to participate in the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans along with selected events in the Le Mans Series. He competed in an LMP2-category Porsche RS Spyder representing Van Merksteijn Motorsport, partnering with team principal Peter van Merksteijn Sr., while Jeroen Bleekemolen joined for the Le Mans race itself.
After achieving wins at both the 1000km Catalunya and 1000km Spa, plus a runner-up finish at the 1000km Monza, Verstappen claimed victory in the LMP2 category at the 2008 Le Mans. His triumph at the 1000km Nurburgring clinched the LMP2 Drivers' championship, and Van Merksteijn Motorsport earned the LMP2 Manufacturers' crown.
Verstappen also took part in the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Lola chassis powered by an Aston Martin engine.
Personal life
Verstappen is fluent in Dutch, English, and German.
He married Belgian former karting champion Sophie Kumpen in 1996; her family includes racers Anthony and Paul Kumpen. They have two children: Max (born 1997) and Victoria (born 1999), both pursuing careers in racing. Max has secured four Formula One World Championships (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). Additionally, Verstappen has three other children: Blue Jaye (born 2014) with his second wife Kelly van der Waal; and Jason Jaxx (born 2019) along with Mila Faye (born 2020) with his third wife Sandy Sijtsma.
Beginning in 2002, Jos took on coaching and managing Max's karting career. His parenting approach has been controversial within Formula One circles, often described as "tough love" or even abusive. Accusations include physical discipline; however, Jos denies any abuse, stating his strict methods were intended to push Max's limits. Max has shared accounts of challenging experiences but maintains a positive relationship with his father.
A promotional video from Red Bull Racing during Max's partnership with Daniel Ricciardo referenced Jos's intense demeanor, illustrating how his parenting style influenced Max's development and resilience.
Legal issues
In 1998, Verstappen and his father Frans were convicted of assault related to a karting incident that resulted in a fractured skull. They received five-year suspended sentences after reaching an out-of-court agreement.
In December 2008, Verstappen faced assault allegations involving Sophie Kumpen in Belgium. While acquitted of assault charges, he was found guilty of threatening her via text messages and breaching a restraining order, leading to a fine and a three-month suspended prison term. In January 2009, he was handed another suspended sentence and fine for further violations connected to Kumpen.
In November 2011, accusations emerged that Verstappen assaulted a girlfriend in Venlo; he denied these claims. In January 2012, he was arrested on attempted murder charges after allegedly driving into his former partner in Roermond; these charges were later dropped. Additionally, he was convicted of property damage and sentenced to community service. His attorney expressed optimism about resolving these matters. Subsequently, Verstappen reconciled with ex-girlfriend Kelly van der Waal; they married in 2014, had a daughter named Blue Jaye, and divorced in 2017.
On 28 July 2016, reports surfaced that Verstappen physically assaulted his father Frans in Montford shortly after the Hungarian Grand Prix that year. Frans filed a police report but later retracted it, describing the situation as private. Manager Raymond Vermeulen echoed this sentiment regarding the incident.
Career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Victories | Pole positions | Fastest laps | Podiums | Points | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Formula Opel Lotus Benelux | 9 | 8 | ? | ? | ? | 160 | 1st | |
| Formula Opel Lotus Euroseries | Van Amersfoort Racing | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 59 | 7th | |
| EFDA Nations Cup | Team Netherlands | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | 1 | N/A | 1st | |
| Formula Opel Lotus Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 0 | ? | 1 | N/A | NC | ||
| 1993 | German Formula Three | Opel Team WTS | 20 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 269 | 1st |
| Formula Pacific | 10 | 3 | {
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{
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{
6} |
{
185} |
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4th} |
|- !rowspan=2 |1994
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:left"|1994 Formula One World Championship |rowspan=2 style="text-align:left"|Mevius Benetton Formula Ford |10 |0 |0 |0 |2 |10 |10th |- |align=center colspan=7 |Test driver |- !rowspan=2 |1995 |rowspan=2 style="text-align:left"|1995 Formula One World Championship |align=left |MTV Simtek Ford |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |NC |- |align=left |Mevius Benetton Formula Renault |align=center colspan=7 |Test driver |- !1996 |align=left |1996 Formula One World Championship |align=left |Footwork Arrows Hart |16 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |16th |- !1997 |align=left |1997 Formula One World Championship |align=left |Tyrrell Racing Ford PIAA Tyrrell Ford |17 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |NC |- !1998 |align=left |1998 Formula One World Championship |align=left |Stewart Grand Prix Ford HSBC Stewart Ford |9 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |NC |- !1999 |align=left |1999 Formula One World Championship |align=left |Honda (test driver)† |– |– |– |– |– |- !2000 |align=left |2000 Formula One World Championship Arrows F1 Team 17 0 0 0 0 5 12th |- !2001 Orange S.A. Arrows Asia Motor Technologies France Asiatech 17 0 0 0 0 1 18th |- !rowspan=2 2003 rowspan="2" style="text-align:left"|2003 Formula One World Championship European Aviation Air Charter Minardi Cosworth rowspan="2"17 rowspan="2"0 rowspan="2"0 rowspan="2"0 rowspan="2"0 rowspan="2"0 rowspan="2"22nd |- Trust (electronics company) Minardi Cosworth |- !2005–06 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix season A1 Team Netherlands 22 1 0 2 2 69 7th |- !rowspan=2 2008 2008 Le Mans Series – LMP2 rowpan="2" style="text-align:left"|Van Merksteijn Motorsport 5 4 5 1 5 48 style="background:#FFFFBF"|1st |- 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans – LMP2 1 1 0 0 1 N/A style="background:#FFFFBF"|1st |- !2009 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans – LMP1 Aston Martin Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 11th |- !rowspan=2 2012 Baku World Challenge - Sprint Races rowpan="2" style="text-align:left"|V4O 1 0 0 0 0 0 N/A |- Baku World Challenge GT 1 0 0 0 0 0
7th
|- !2022 2022 Ypres Rally ||
1 0 N/A N/A 0 0 NC |- !colspan="10"|Template:Center{{{1}}}Source: Driver DatabaseTemplate:/smallTemplate:/center |} † Verstappen acted as a test driver for the Honda F1 initiative that was ultimately canceled.
Full German Formula Three Championship results
(key) (Events shown in bold denote pole position) (Events in italics represent fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Power Unit | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Final Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Opel Team WTS | Opel | ZOL 1 3rd |
ZOL 2 Retired |
HOC 1 5th |
HOC 2 4th |
NÜR 1 2nd |
NÜR 2 2nd |
WUN 1 Winner |
WUN 2 Winner |
NOR 1 Winner |
NOR 2 Winner |
DIE 1 2nd |
DIE 2 Retired |
NÜR 1 2nd |
NÜR 2 Winner |
SIN 1 2nd |
SIN 2 Winner |
AVU 1 Winner |
AVU 2 Winner |
HOC 1 7th |
HOC 2 11th |
Champion | "269" |
Complete Formula One Championship results
(key) (Events in bold signify pole position) (Events in italics signify fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car Model | Engine Supplier | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | World Champion Standing | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Mild Seven Benetton Ford | Benetton B194 | Ford V8 | 'Retired' | 'Retired' | 'Retired' | '8th' | 'Retired' | '3rd' | '3rd' | 'Retired' | '5th' | 'Retired' | '2nd' | '1st' | '1st' | '7th' | '11th' | '10th place' | '10' |
† Classified despite not finishing, having completed more than 90% of the race distance.
Full A1 Grand Prix Performance Record
(Entries in bold denote pole positions) (Entries in italics signify fastest laps)
| Season | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Final Standing | Points Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Netherlands | GBR SPR Retired |
GBR FEA 7th |
GER SPR Retired |
GER FEA 7th |
POR SPR 4th |
POR FEA Retired |
AUS SPR 7th |
AUS FEA 4th |
MYS SPR 5th |
MYS FEA 16th |
UAE SPR 11th |
UAE FEA 9th |
RSA SPR 16th |
RSA FEA 1st |
IDN SPR 7th |
IDN FEA 6th |
MEX SPR 4th |
MEX FEA 2nd |
USA SPR 14th |
USA FEA Retired |
CHN SPR Retired |
CHN FEA 17th |
7th Overall | 69 Points |
Full Le Mans Series Competition Record
(Template:Motorsport driver results legend#key) (Entries in bold represent pole positions; entries in italics denote fastest laps)
| Season | Team/Entrant | Category/Class | Vehicle Chassis | Engine Model | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Final Ranking | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Le Mans Series | Van Merksteijn Motorsport | LMP2 Class | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | Porsche MR6 3.4 L V8 Engine | 2008 1000 km of Catalunya 1st place |
2008 1000 km of Monza 2nd place |
2008 1000 km of Spa 1st place |
2008 1000 km of Nürburgring 1st place |
2008 1000 km of Silverstone 1st place |
Champion (1st) | Total: 48 Points |
| Template:Center | |||||||||||