In the midst of his son Max Verstappen’s breathtakingly dominant 2023 Formula 1 season, Jos Verstappen faced a personal battle of his own—a heart surgery that went largely unnoticed by the racing world. The 51-year-old former Formula 1 driver recently opened up about his health journey in an interview with Dutch magazine Formule 1.
“It’s annoying that I had to have it, but it’s now resolved,” Jos Verstappen said of his operation. While Jos is no longer deeply involved in the day-to-day management of his son’s career, he remains a steadfast presence, often seen at grand prix events in between taking part in lower-tier rally events. However, his heart condition had remained undetected for most of his life.
“Fortunately, they were able to find the problem, and I now feel fit again,” Jos Verstappen shared. “It was something that I have had all my life and was never discovered; otherwise, it could have helped immediately. But you can live to be a hundred years old with it.”
Facing a heart operation is undoubtedly a daunting experience, and Jos Verstappen admitted to the anxieties it brought. “Any operation on your heart is always exciting, of course, because they can do something wrong, and you’re totally dependent on other people,” he reflected. “But I also had a neck hernia 20 years ago, which made me even more nervous.”
Jos Verstappen’s health scare has given him a fresh perspective on life. “It puts things into perspective and makes you appreciate what you have even more,” he said. “I have a nice wife and two small children with whom I want to spend beautiful time with for as long as possible.”
Amid all the personal challenges, Jos Verstappen remains a pillar of support for his 26-year-old son, Max Verstappen, who clinched his third consecutive World Championship title in the dominant 2023 season. When asked if it bothers him that Max doesn’t always receive the recognition he deserves, Jos offered an insightful response.
“He doesn’t really care about that,” Jos remarked. “I think everyone in the paddock and within the entire family knows how well Max does his thing anyway. What people out there think doesn’t really matter.”
