Jos Verstappen: 'Otherwise Wolff would have contracted Max with eyes closed'
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Toto Wolff recently revealed that Jos Verstappen and Max Verstappen visited his home to talk about a possible contract. A deal ultimately did not materialise, and Red Bull Racing went in for the now two-time world champion. Verstappen Sr. tells La Gazzetta dello Sport about the visit to the Mercedes team boss and how the contact with Helmut Marko went in 2014.
Mercedes misses out
"We went to his house in Vienna, and we had serious conversations, but I don't think Toto had followed him much in karting and really knew how special Max was. Otherwise, he would have contracted him with his eyes closed, even though Mercedes had no junior programme," Jos said in an interview with the sports newspaper from Italy. Mercedes did not immediately have a place for Verstappen in Formula 1, which meant the German formation was not really interesting for Max.
Wolff himself also acknowledged that he may not have fully assessed Verstappen's talent at the time. According to the 51-year-old Austrian, it was 'not quite clear' at the time. Helmut Marko, however, was quick to rub this in after Wolff's statements came to his attention." So then I don't know what exactly Toto has been looking at," was Marko's witty response.
Red Bull's talent scout did see immediately that Max had something special. Marko and the Verstappens met at Hockenheim in 2014. "We climbed into the Red Bull motorhome and slid into the table. Helmut said: 'I only have 20 minutes'. Max, who was 17, replied: 'That's more than enough'. Helmut left no stone unturned: 'Next year I want Max in a Toro Rosso in Formula 1'. The deal was then done" recalls Jos.
Only later contact with Ferrari
Verstappen Sr. was also questioned on whether there was also a conversation with Ferrari. "Not with the current management. They sought us out after the first year in Formula 1." At that time, however, Verstappen was well in place at Red Bull, and there was no reason to switch teams. "But wherever he goes in the future, he will make a difference, provided he is surrounded by the right people," Jos Verstappen said.