Jos Verstappen

Johannes Franciscus "Jos" Verstappen, born on March 4, 1972, is a Dutch former racing driver who competed in Formula One between 1994 and 2003. Verstappen began karting at the age of eight and quickly rose through the ranks, winning the Dutch junior championship in 1984 and two Karting European Championships in 1989. By 1991, he transitioned to car racing, dominating the 1992 Benelux Formula Opel Lotus Championship and winning the EFDA Nations Cup for the Netherlands. His success continued in 1993 when he won the German Formula Three Championship in his rookie season and the prestigious Masters of Formula 3 race.

Verstappen's Formula One debut came in 1994 with Benetton, partnering Michael Schumacher. He secured two podium finishes that year, at the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix. Throughout his F1 career, he drove for several teams, including Simtek, Footwork, Tyrrell, Stewart, Arrows, and Minardi. Known for his aggressive driving style and willingness to take risks, Verstappen always had a strong following. After his F1 career, he participated in A1 Grand Prix, winning a race in South Africa, and in sportscar racing, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class in 2008.

After retiring from racing in 2012, Verstappen dedicated himself to coaching and managing his son, Max Verstappen, from karting to Formula One. Jos played a crucial role in Max's development, witnessing his son win multiple Formula One World Championships.