Jos Verstappen

Jos Verstappen, nicknamed 'Jos the Boss', is a Dutch former Formula 1 driver who competed for over a decade in the sport and became the first Dutchman to stand on an F1 podium, before masterminding the career of his son, four-time World Champion Max Verstappen.

Jos Verstappen became the first Dutch driver to stand on a Formula 1 podium with third place at the 1994 Hungarian Grand Prix, completed 106 Grand Prix starts across a decade in the sport, and later became the primary mentor behind his son Max's rise to four consecutive World Championships from 2021 to 2024. He progressed through Formula Opel Lotus and German Formula 3, winning the 1993 Marlboro Masters, which secured him a test and reserve role with the Benetton Formula 1 team. Verstappen was thrust into a race seat for the 1994 season opener after teammate J.J. Lehto was injured in a testing crash, partnering Michael Schumacher at Benetton. That season brought both triumph and danger: he became the first Dutch driver to stand on an F1 podium with third place at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but was also engulfed in flames during a pit stop fire at the German Grand Prix, escaping with only a minor burn to his nose. Verstappen went on to race for Simtek, Arrows, Tyrrell, Stewart, and Minardi across a decade-long F1 career spanning 106 starts, retiring in 2003 as the most successful Dutch driver in the sport's history at the time — a distinction his son Max would later surpass. After F1, Jos competed in sports car racing, winning his class at the 2008 24 Hours of Le Mans, and later focused primarily on mentoring Max's rise through the junior racing categories to four consecutive World Championships from 2021 to 2024, while continuing to compete himself in European rallying.

Aggressive, quick driver known for raw speed though limited by uncompetitive machinery for much of his career

The most successful Dutch F1 driver of his era before his son surpassed his achievements, and a driving force behind Max Verstappen's rise to the top of the sport

• First Dutch driver to podium in Formula 1 (1994 Hungarian Grand Prix)
• 106 Formula 1 starts across a decade-long career
• 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner (2008)
• European Rally Championship competitor