Jos Verstappen Reveals Early Marko Talks: 'I Was Very Surprised'

Jos Verstappen has opened up about the initial negotiations that brought his son Max to Formula 1 in 2015, when the Dutchman was just 17 and had only one year of single-seater experience.

Max's stellar karting career made him a hot prospect, with Mercedes and Red Bull both eager to secure his signature. Jos, along with Max's manager Raymond Vermeulen, met with Toto Wolff and Helmut Marko to weigh their options.

"We already had the same team around us: manager Raymond Vermeulen, who is a good friend of mine," Verstappen told AutoHebdo. "It was him, Max, and me, and that's still the case today. So we were very well prepared."

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"Toto Wolff and Helmut Marko were both in talks with us. They were pushing to sign him. And we did our job: finding the best environment for Max."

Verstappen's camp was swayed by Marko's promise of a full-time seat for 2015. However, Jos, aware of the risks of promoting such a young driver, pushed for better terms.

"I remember it well," Verstappen said. "I was at Hockenheim, and it was a typical conversation with Helmut. He came over to our table and said, 'I only have 20 minutes.' I told him that was more than enough time to talk. His opening line was: 'I want Max with us in F1 next year'."

"I was very surprised that he said that, so I replied, 'Okay, Helmut, let's do it - but for two years, not just one'. Because Max was so young, I thought he needed a first year to settle in, and that he could then show how good he was in the second year."

The decision proved wise. Max adapted so quickly in his first year with Toro Rosso that Red Bull promoted him to the senior team after just one season, a move that eventually led to four consecutive world titles.