Jos Verstappen: "I think Mercedes assumed they would run away with it here"

After the race two proud fathers were standing next to each other: besides Jos Verstappen, the father of Sergio Perez was present as well. He was glowing with pride when his son reached the podium. Verstappen saw his son drive a strong race, which according to him was even more exciting because the title fight is approaching its denouement.

"That he keeps his head so cool and knows how to bring the tyres into such a window when he needs to use them," says the proud father in conversation with Formule1.nl. He also sees that Verstappen is busy analysing during the race, already thinking about the end of the race at the second pit stop, where he has to make sure there is still life in his tyres by then.

Verstappen thinks far ahead

According to his father, Max Verstappen's strength lies in the fact that he not only drives flawlessly but also thinks far ahead. Enjoying the race was out of the question for his father Jos, who said he walked away from the race ten times because he was so nervous. It all took too long for him, but he knew like no other that his son had what it takes to finish. "If I have confidence in anything, it's in Max," he gloated.

After the first practice sessions on Friday, Mercedes initially looked set to take the win in Austin, which makes this result hopeful according to Verstappen. "I think Mercedes assumed they would run away with it here, but it's not that simple," says Verstappen, who thinks the difference in the coming races will be in the details.