Jos Verstappen: Max Verstappen’s dad, the ex-F1 driver involved in infamous fire with controversial past
Jos Verstappen made his F1 debut at the 1994 Bra൩zilian Grand Prix after Benetton driver JJ Lehto broke his vertebra.
Verstappen drove alongside Michael Schumacheꦏr, who would go onto win the 1994 title ahead of Damon Hill.
Verstappen failed to score points in his first two races for ౠthe team before making a return in France.
The Dutchman stood on the podium at the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix before being dropped for the final two 🐭races in favour of Johnny Herbert.
Herbert would secure 𝓡the drive for 1995 alongside Schumacher, while Verstappen was forced to move to Simtek.
Infamous fire incident
During the 1994 campaign, Verstappen was involved in a dramatic fire incident at the Ge🥂rman Grand Prix.
During his first pit stop, fuel leaked onto th💧e car after the fuel hose was disconnected.
As a result, his ca⛎r went up in flames for 🦩several seconds.
Verstappen was uninjured besides a f🉐ew minor bur💎ns to his nose.
Rest of his F1 career
The remainder of Verstappen’s F1 career proved to be unsuccessful 🌌as he never stood on the podium again after 1994.
His 1995 campaign w🍬as cut short by Simtek’s financial struggles, while 1996 only mustered one championship point with Footwork Hart.
Two top five finishes for Arrows in 2000 was the best Verstappen achieved in the fin🌠al years of his career.
He finally retired at the end of ൩2003 after driving for minnows Minardi.
After scoring 10 p🌞oints in his first season, Verstappen managed just seven points in the subsequent seven years.
Controversial past
Verstappen has a controve𝓡rsial history with a number of high-profile incidents.
Verstappen and his father were found guilty o♔f assaulting a man at a karting track in 1998 but were given a five-year suspended sentence after reaching an out-of-court settlement.
In 2008, Verstappen appeared in Belgian court cꩲharged with assaulting his wife (who he had separated) So🍨phie Kumpen (the mother of Max).
He was found guilty of sending threatening text🐬s and violating a previous restraining order but avoided jail.
Finally, in November 2011 it was reported that Verstappen had assaulted his e🥀x-girlfrien♛d.
He was then arrest𝕴ed on attempted murder charges after claims he drove a car into his ex-girlriend but was released after the charge w꧙as withdrawn.
With a sharp eye for F1’s contro🍬versies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased report🌳ing.
