Column: Jos Verstappen - Max wants to score 100 points
Published on 15 April 2016 by Mike Motilall
Jos Verstappen is still the Netherlands most successful Formula 1-driver. This season he shares his opinions regarding the sport via a column in Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf. Below the latest edition.
“Max’ sixth place in Bahrain was better than we had all expected. Toro Rosso always had difficult races there in the past. Although we were less strong during qualifying, the final result was just super. The team particularly praised the way Max took care of his tyres. But when I talked to him about that afterwards, he said: ‘Dad, I always take care of the tyres, but that also depends on how the car responds and our strategy.’ Everything fell nicely into its place. That was somehow needed by the way, given the disappointment of the first Grand Prix.
Max has previously disclosed that he intends to score one hundred championship points this year. This means he needs to make tracks like crazy, albeit he already has nine after two races, so it is still possible. And if he doesn’t make it, this doesn’t mean that he has had a disappointing season. We are in a highly competitive field this time round. Among the likes of Force India, Williams, and also the new Haas-team are doing very well. Just like Toro Rosso, they are using a Ferrari-engine. Haas has prepared themselves well and have contracted the right people. It is now being said that they are running with too many parts taken from Ferrari. But it makes no difference, because this puts them straight in the top-five. Better than anyone expected.
Talking about controversies: from this weekend on, after much debate, last year’s qualifying format will be implemented again. This doesn’t mean that much for Max, he just needs to rake up those fast laps. But for the fans it is understandable. The new drop out format made qualifying in Australia and Bahrain at certain moments quite interesting, but then again, sometimes not. So, it’s a good thing were going back.
In China, everything is different than most of the countries with a Grand Prix. You are not allowed to drive here with a regular driving licence – so we have a chauffeur – and many influences from abroad are restricted. This also implies for a large part of the internet. Still, we are able to focus ourselves on the Grand Prix according to our plans. Max is not affected by the difference in the particular countries and that’s how it should be. He knows why he is here and never lets himself get distracted.
Of course I can understand that Lewis Hamilton flew in with his own jet and visits the Great Wall in between sessions. I am following him on Twitter, this enables me to keep track of what is going on in the Formula 1-media. But you need to be careful with that, people can dump anything on the internet just to get attention. I find that difficult at times, but Max knows exactly how the new media world operates. He has also made it possible for me to get on the internet in China just like at home. My daughter Victoria can also help me out with that by the way. The youth is faster when it comes to those kind of things.”
Jos Verstappen
Source: Telesport/De Telegraaf
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