A father might sometimes be harsh with his children, but a mother’s heart is always full of love and protection. This was certainly true for Max Verstappen when his dad left him at a gas station following an argument after a karting race. It was his mother, Sophie Kumpen, who drove all the way to rescue her stranded son. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, Max Verstappen shared a heartfelt message despite his recent humorous remark at the Miami GP.

While Max Verstappen has been very vocal about the contributions of his father, Jos Verstappen, in shaping him into the world champion he is today, his mother also played a crucial role in his life. Jos Verstappen was tough on Max because he knew what it took to become a world champion, but Max always had his mother for comfort. Verstappen also inherited half of his racing genes from his mother, who was a great racer herself, though she never reached the top of the sport.

At the Miami GP, Verstappen made a humorous comment about his mother. When Lando Norris was asked if he could have won the race without the safety car interference, Verstappen jumped in to defend Norris, suggesting that racing is always full of ‘what ifs.’ He added, “If my mom had balls, she would be my dad,” eliciting laughs.

Just days after these comments, Max Verstappen posted a heartfelt photo on his Instagram with a special message for Mother’s Day. The picture, taken at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, shows Max celebrating with his family, including his mother Sophie Kumpen, grandmother Marianne, sister Victoria Jane Verstappen (a mother of two), aunt Gerda, and his girlfriend Kelly Piquet, who is the mother of Penelope. The caption read, “Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers.”

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Although Verstappen doesn’t often talk about his mother, a former F1 Team Owner mentioned that Max holds Sophie Kumpen in high regard not only as a racer but also as an exceptional mother.