A THIRD Verstappen F1 driver? Paddock veteran reveals how another family member could have joined Formula 1 grid

Max Verstappen

THIRD Verstappen driver could have raced in F1

Max Verstappen and father Jos might not have been the only Formula 1 drivers in their family

Matthew Hobkinson Lead Editor

F1 Editor & Journalist

Sunday 21 May 2023 17:27

Eddie Jordan has insisted that Max Verstappen’s mother could have been a Formula 1 driver when he was racing – but that “there wasn’t a mechanism there to help her” at the time.

Verstappen is currently battling with fellow Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez for what looks set to be a two-horse race for the 2023 world championship such is the dominance of the RB19.

Verstappen’s father, Jos, raced in F1 himself – but it turns out that there might have been a third family member taking part in the sport if things had been different.

Article continues under video

“I believe that in the next decade, if not before, there will be a worthy woman racing in F1,” David Coulthard told the Formula For Success podcast.

“It's about being able to create opportunities and develop your skills in the same way as a Verstappen or a Lewis Hamilton.”

'Max Verstappen's mother was wonderfully quick'

Max Verstappen is in search of this third world championship this season

And Jordan insisted that Verstappen’s mother, Sophie Kumpen, was fast enough to have been a F1 driver herself when he was on the grid.

"The only person that I think they could have done that with in my time is with Max’s mum,” he added.

“I think that Max Verstappen’s mother was a serious, absolutely wonderfully quick girl, and she – without any question – could have made it, in my opinion, into F1. But there wasn’t a mechanism there to help her."