For this weekend’s 2022 Dutch Grand Prix, reigning Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen will honor his father Jos with a special tribute helmet livery.
Verstappen will wear a helmet that is similar to the one his father used from 1994 to 2003 when racing in Formula 1.
Jos Verstappen made the decision to give up his driving career after 2003 in order to help his son become one of the greatest drivers of his generation. Therefore, Max running the special helmet in front of their home audience at Zandvoort as their hero looks to make it four wins in a row this Sunday is a fitting tribute to Jos.
Verstappen and Red Bull are very certain to win the 2022 F1 championship, so it is expected Holland will support its always impressive native driver. Zandvoort will undoubtedly be “painted” and “smoking” orange over the entire weekend. It wouldn’t be strange if there was a symbolic coronation.
Jos began his Formula One career over twenty years ago, competing in 107 Grands Prix and twice placing on the podium before his final race in the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher’s partner when he made his racing debut with Benneton, later drove for Simtek, Footwork, Tyrrell, Stewart, Arrows, and ultimately Minardi.
It is important to remember that Verstappen Sr. had bad luck in 1999 because he was a test driver for a significant Honda F1 initiative under the direction of longtime Tyrrell engineer Harvey Postlethwaite, who also helped Honda get ready for their 2000 F1 debut.
However, Postlethwaite suddenly passed away in April 1999 from a heart attack. As a result, Verstappen’s ambition of joining a big F1 team was lost with Postlethwaite’s departure, which likely eventually caused him to concentrate on his son Max.
