Helmut Marko reveals the extreme training behind Max Verstappen’s success

The path to becoming a four-time Formula 1 world champion is rarely straightforward, but for Max Verstappen, the journey was defined by an uncompromising, high-pressure upbringing. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has provided fresh insight into the extreme training methods employed by Jos Verstappen, revealing the intensity that forged the Dutchman’s relentless competitive nature.

A childhood defined by rigor

It is well-documented that Jos Verstappen was a demanding mentor, pushing his son to the absolute limit throughout his karting and junior formula career. According to Marko, this "hard schooling" was designed to instill a singular focus on excellence.

“You always have to be the first, the best - those words from his father, the son literally absorbed,” Marko told German publication Die Zeit.

The training was often physical and unforgiving. Marko recounted sessions near Milan, where a young Verstappen was required to drive until his fingers turned blue from the cold. Regardless of whether it was raining or temperatures hovered around 10 degrees Celsius, the work continued unabated.

The competitive edge

While the methods were extreme, Marko argues that they directly contributed to the driver Verstappen is today. The most tangible benefit of this rigorous upbringing is seen in the Dutchman’s unparalleled performance in adverse conditions.

“When Max takes to the track in bad weather, he is immediately two seconds faster than the others,” Marko noted.

When asked if the intense pressure was justified, Marko acknowledged the severity of the approach, noting, “Yes, but not every boy would have survived that psychologically.”

A mindset beyond his years

Marko, who has worked closely with many of the sport's greats, drew parallels between Verstappen and Red Bull’s other four-time champion, Sebastian Vettel. He recalled meeting a 15-year-old Verstappen who possessed the maturity of a man a decade older, driven by a clear, unwavering goal.

This intensity mirrors the attitude Marko witnessed in Vettel during his early career. “Vettel, when he sat across the table from me at the time, had just won 18 out of 20 Formula BMW races,” Marko said. “He was dissatisfied that he hadn't won the other two as well. That unstoppable will has stayed with me.”

Ultimately, it was this same "unstoppable will," cultivated through years of demanding training, that propelled Verstappen to the pinnacle of Formula 1.