As the Formula 1 season reaches its climax at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has revealed that his family will not be present to witness the potential crowning of his fifth world championship. The four-time world champion, who trails McLaren's Lando Norris by 12 points in the standings, explained the circumstances surrounding his parents' absence during a media day at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Verstappen clarified that his father, Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver himself, is currently engaged in rallying in Africa. Meanwhile, his mother, Sophie Kumpen, a former kart racer, had not planned to attend the finale. Verstappen stated, "No, my parents are not here. My dad is rallying in Africa and my mum, I guess it was not planned".
The Red Bull driver further elaborated that the decision for his family not to attend was made earlier in the season when his chances of contending for the title appeared slim. "I also did not plan to be in the title fight until the end, so here we are! I think after Zandvoort everything was a bit cancelled I would say. My mum is at home happy with the dogs. You can see a lot on TV anyway," Verstappen explained. After the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen was over 100 points behind the championship leader. However, a remarkable comeback, including winning five of the last nine races, has placed him within striking distance of Norris.
Despite the absence of his parents, Verstappen affirmed that their support remains unwavering. "We are not like that. They know when I am sitting in the car I will give everything I have. I just speak to them about other stuff," he said. He added, "They don't need to motivate me, it doesn't really work like that. Of course they always support me and my mum always lights a candle before every race weekend, but I guess they trust their son!".
Verstappen also mentioned that he is feeling relaxed and has "nothing to lose" heading into the final race. He reflected on the turnaround in the second half of the season, stating, "I'm just enjoying being here, but for me it's not even about being here – I've been enjoying the second half of the season, working with the team and how we've been able to turn things around from difficult times".
While Verstappen's family will be watching from afar, his title rivals, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, will have their families present at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Norris expressed the importance of sharing the experience with his friends and family, while Piastri noted that it's always special to have his family there, especially since they can't attend most races due to living in Australia.
As the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he aims to overcome the odds and secure his fifth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship. Regardless of the outcome, the absence of his parents will not diminish their support, as they trust their son to give it his all on the track.
