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    Max Verstappen wears GOLD racing boots as he’s back on track for first time since epic F1 title win over Lewis Hamilton

    MAX VERSTAPPEN left nobody in any doubt who was Formula One’s new golden boy as he showed off his new racing boots.Red Bull’s speed king was back behind the wheel yesterday in Abu Dhabi for a tyre test and wore his special shoes… and a baseball hat saying ‘Champion’.
    Verstappen walked the corridors in Abu Dhabi wearing golden racing bootsCredit: INSTAGRAM: MAXVERSTAPPEN1
    Puma gave Verstappen the special boots with his championship car No33 on the sideCredit: INSTAGRAM: MAXVERSTAPPEN1
    And the Dutchman is ready to be the grid’s new No1 after pipping Lewis Hamilton to win his maiden world championship on Sunday.
    The 24-year-old has the choice to stick with his racing No 33 on his car for next season, or take the No 1, which is reserved for the champion.
    And the Dutchman says it is a no-brainer to make the switch, unlike former world champion Hamilton, who stuck with No 44.
    Verstappen, who edged out his Mercedes rival on the final lap in Abu Dhabi, said: “Yeah, I will run it.
    “How many times can you do that?  I don’t know, maybe it’s the only time I can in my life.
    “It’s the best number out there.  I will definitely put it on the car.”
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    Verstappen left nobody in any doubt who the new champion wasCredit: PUMA / BEEM
    Verstappen also showed off his ‘champions’ hat in the paddockCredit: Getty
    Verstappen was testing new year’s Red Bull, with drastically wider tyres than in previous seasonsCredit: AFP
    Verstappen won Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in controversial fashion, winning the title on the final lap – crushing rival Hamilton’s chances of a record-breaking eighth.
    FIA race director Michael Masi has come under fire for seemingly ignoring the rules to create a single lap showdown in the winner-takes-all-contest.
    Hamilton was on old tyres as Verstappen screamed past following a safety car period where Masi allowed five cars to get out of the way.
    Verstappen and Red Bull reportedly partied into the early hours of the next morning, but on Tuesday it was back to work.
    And there was no sign of a hangover for Verstappen as he strutted down corridors at the Yas Marina circuit in golden Puma shoes for post-season testing.
    On Instagram, Verstappen wrote: “Back to work.”
    Completing 124 laps around the same Yas Marina Circuit he sealed his title on days ago, Verstappen was one of 19 drivers testing the new 18-inch tyres which will be used in F1 next season.
    And Verstappen did not have the same pace this time as he finished 17th, in a field made up of some current and inexperienced drivers.
    That was, however, faster than new Mercedes man George Russell, driving in Hamilton’s absence.
    Hamilton will instead be knighted by the Queen at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
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    The new F1 season is scheduled to get underway in just three months time.
    Bahrain will host the first race of the 2022 season, but the first three-day test is due to take place in Barcelona between February 23 and 25.
    Abu Dhabi, like the season just passed, will host the finale.
    Verstappen won the championship on the final lapCredit: GETTY IMAGES More

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    Bernie Ecclestone’s wife Fabiana, 44, will be given chief F1 job if Mohammed Ben Sulayem replaces Todt as FIA president

    BERNIE ECCLESTONE’S wife Fabiana, 44, could be set for a big role within the FIA.Current FIA president Jean Todt, 75, is set to be replaced for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
    Fabiana Ecclestone could be set for a big role at the FIACredit: EPA
    Fabiana, 44, wed Bernie, 91, in 2012Credit: PA:Press Association
    Either Mohammed Ben Sulayem or Graham Stoker will succeed Frenchman Todt as they bid to be elected on December 17.
    And if the former is successful, Fabiana Ecclestone is set for big things.
    Should Ben Sulayem be elected, Fabiana will be appointed Vice-President for Sport in South America.
    The Brazilian is married to former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.
    She met the 91-year-old at the World Motor Sport Council in 2009.
    And the couple wed three years later.
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    In 2020, Fabiana gave birth to a baby boy – as Bernie became a dad for the first time at 89.
    They named their baby boy Ace.
    With Todt set to depart after 12 years, the FIA could face yet more upheaval this winter, as Michael Masi comes under intense scrutiny.
    Both Ben Sulayem and Stoker would be under pressure to axe Masi, after an error-strewn season for the Aussie race director – culminating in his decision to bend the rules in Abu Dhabi, gifting Max Verstappen the title.
    Mercedes intend to appeal F1 bosses’ decision to REJECT their protests after Lewis Hamilton was robbed of his eighth world title.
    Fabiana gave birth to Bernie’s first son in 2020Credit: PA
    Michael Masi is under-fireCredit: Getty More

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    Max Verstappen says controversial F1 win over Lewis Hamilton won’t taint historic F1 title after dramatic season

    MAX VERSTAPPEN doesn’t believe his Formula One world title will be tainted due to the controversial end to the season. The Red Bull man won his first world crown on the final lap of the season in Abu Dhabi – but is still the subject of a possible legal challenge from Mercedes.
    Verstappen won a maiden F1 title in Abu DhabiCredit: Getty
    Hamilton was denied a record eighth world-title in heartbreaking circumstancesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Lewis Hamilton’s team were furious that FIA race director Michael Masi fudged the rules to create a single lap showdown in the winner-takes-all-contest.
    Hamilton was a sitting duck on old tyres as Verstappen screamed past following a safety car period where Masi allowed five cars to get out of the way.
    Both Hamilton and Merc felt the result was manipulated resulting in Verstappen winning the title in front of a huge TV audience.
    But the Dutchman insists he did nothing wrong and won the title fair and square on track.
    When quizzed if he was disappointed to end the season with so much controversy, he said: “No, I’m not, no.
    “I’m not disappointed at all. I think it sums up the whole season in general. It’s been pretty crazy for both teams. We gave it our all to the end.
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    “It [controversy] has been a big part of the whole season. It’s just been like that already a few times with protests or whatever.
    “It is what it is. That’s racing sometimes as well. For me nothing really changed and we did win it on track.
    “I did not do anything wrong. I just raced when it was a green light so that also made it enjoyable.
    “There are always things to look at and that’s always after things like this. You can look into it and say what should have been done?
    “It is the same in football. The referee should have given a penalty or it shouldn’t have been a penalty?
    “What can we improve? Should we have had a different camera angle? All these things you’re going to bring up.”
    Bleary-eyed Verstappen also revealed he received a message from Merc boss Toto Wolff that will raise a few eyebrows.
    Despite Merc deciding whether to appeal their failed protests, Verstappen claims he got a text from Wolff saying congratulations.
    It gives a big hint that perhaps Merc will drop their charged against the FIA and Michael Masi.
    Verstappen faced a nervous four-hour wait to discover the outcome of Mercedes’ two protestsCredit: Getty
    Verstappen said: “I haven’t heard anything [about the protest]. Toto sent me a text saying congratulations on the season and that I deserved to win it, and that was very nice of him.
    “I mean, emotions ran very high on that last lap from both sides, from both teams. So yeah, it is what it is. I mean, we’ll see what the outcome is.”
    Verstappen had a four hour delay before he could start to celebrate his maiden title, not just in F1 but in single-seaters.
    His last title came in 2013 in go-karting.
    And his celebrations lasted long into the night, with a video of him jumping into a swimming pool at 6:42 on Monday morning.
    He said: “It was a long night! I ended up at [Dutch DJ] Martin Garrix’s place so yeah, it was fun.
    “I was spending a lot of time with all the team members celebrating all together. All the emotions came out.
    “It was a lot of fun but when I woke up, that was not so fun. I maybe regretted that final drink!”
    “It was really nice to have friends and family there and a lot of people have a headache at the moment.” More

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    Max Verstappen earns extra £12m in bonuses alone for historic F1 season after beating Lewis Hamilton to title

    MAX VERSTAPPEN reportedly pocketed £12million in bonuses for his Formula 1 world championship triumph on Sunday.The Dutchman controversially pipped Lewis Hamilton to the title after a questionable late decision by under-fire FIA chief Michael Masi.
    Max Verstappen toasted victory on SundayCredit: Splash
    As well as sealing him title championship glory, Masi’s decision also earned Verstappen a pretty penny.
    The 24-year-old earns a base salary of around £18.2million with Red Bull.
    According to Marca, this figure went up by an astonishing £12m for his success.
    So Verstappen had even more reason to celebrate alongside girlfriend Kelly Piquet.
    He also stopped for selfies with Geri Horner, wife of Red Bull team principal Christian.
    Hamilton, 36, remains comfortably the top-paid driver in F1 this year.

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    Including bonuses and add-ons, the Brit was thought to earn around £40m with Mercedes.
    And it could have been even more.
    SunSport revealed last week that he could have pocketed a further £4m in bonuses, had he won his eighth world title.
    But he was denied this further boost by Masi’s late controversy, with stars including Gary Lineker hitting out at the FIA.

    Lewis Hamilton missed out on a handy bonusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    @font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Read More Sun Sport.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);} More

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    Gary Lineker beautifully sums up F1 farce between Hamilton and Verstappen with brilliant Liverpool vs Man City analogy

    GARY LINEKER has summed up Max Verstappen’s controversial victory over Lewis Hamilton with a perfect football analogy.Verstappen, 24, overcame Brit hero Hamilton after some questionable decision making by under-fire FIA chief Michael Masi.
    Max Verstappen controversially beat Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
    The F1 farce was likened to a Man City vs Liverpool clashCredit: Getty
    The Mercedes superstar, 36, had led his younger Red Bull foe for virtually all of the winner-takes-all race in Abu Dhabi.
    Verstappen pitted for a second time to try and chase Hamilton down on fresher tyres, but remained 12 seconds behind with just six laps remaining… until Nicholas Latifi’s crash sent the safety car out.
    Another quick pit stop left the Red Bull ace fresh for a photo finish… and the FIA made it easy by changing their mind at the last minute, allowing Verstappen to pass lapped cars to find himself right on Hamilton’s tail with just one lap remaining.
    The FIA got their photo finish and new winner, much to the ire of Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, as well as a number of rival drivers.
    And former England star Lineker, 61, threw in an analogy for football fans.
    He wrote on Twitter: “Imagine Man City and Liverpool going toe to toe for the title.
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    “On the last day of the season they meet & City are 3 up with just minutes to go.
    “The referee decides it would be more exciting to have a penalty shootout. What’s more the City players have to be barefooted. That’s @F1.”
    F1 reporter Will Buxton argued: “Very difficult to compare sports Gary, especially as F1 has such a complex rule book. Safety cars nullifying the field isn’t new.
    “The circumstances were strange. But I’d say it’s more like Smith Rowe’s goal when De Gea was down recently, deciding the FA Cup in the 94th minute.”
    Lineker was having none of it, however, replying: “Hardly. His own player injured him.
    “There was zero controversy around it, nothing much at stake and it wasn’t near the end of the game, let alone the season, but, yeah, apart from that a much better analogy.”
    George Russell, who will replace Valtteri Bottas as Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate next season, blasted: “THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!
    “Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable. I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.”
    Gary Lineker was unimpressed with the FIA’s decisionCredit: The Mega Agency More

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    Lewis Hamilton to be knighted at Windsor tomorrow just days after world title defeat

    LEWIS Hamilton will be knighted at Windsor tomorrow — three days after his controversial world title defeat.The Formula One racing legend was awarded the honour last year for services to motorsports.
    Lewis Hamilton will be knighted at Windsor tomorrow — three days after his controversial world title defeatCredit: PA
    The 36-year-old is the fourth F1 driver to become a Sir after Jackie Stewart, Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham.
    The investiture will bring comfort to Hamilton after the devastating end to a nail-biting season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday when he was pipped by Max Verstappen.
    Furious fans claimed he had been robbed of a record eighth world crown after leading for most of the race.
    Hamilton, awarded an MBE in 2009, was set for a win with an 11-second lead only for Verstappen, 24, to snatch a dramatic last-lap victory after the Dutchman was allowed to catch up while racing was halted for a crash.
    Gracious Lewis — who has campaigned for BLM and LGBTQ+ issues in the sport — congratulated his rival and tomorrow will put his pain to one side when he is told: “Arise, Sir Lewis.”
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    Furious fans claimed he had been robbed of a record eighth world crown after leading for most of the raceCredit: Getty
    The investiture will bring comfort to Hamilton after the devastating end to a nail-biting season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday when he was pipped by Max VerstappenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Tyson Fury could SUE BBC after being named on SPOTY 2021 shortlist despite legal threat while Lewis Hamilton misses out
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    ‘Complete and utter nonsense’ – F1 legend Bernie Ecclestone blasts talk that Lewis Hamilton was ‘robbed’ of title

    FORMER F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone believes it is ‘complete and utter nonsense’ that Lewis Hamilton was ‘robbed’ of winning a record eighth World Championship.The Mercedes driver, 36, lost out on the title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who overtook him on the final lap in Abu Dhabi.
    Lewis Hamilton was pipped to the Formula One World Championship by Max Verstappen on SundayCredit: Getty
    Bernie Ecclestone believes Hamilton can have no complaints about not winning in Abu DhabiCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Hamilton was on course for victory only for a safety car to be deployed on lap 54 after Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barriers.
    The 36-year-old was leading the race by over ten seconds prior to the safety car, which ultimately allowed Verstappen to hone in on his rival.
    Verstappen then used his fresher tyres after he pitted to edge in front of the seven-time world champ after stewards decided to allow lapped cars to pass Hamilton.
    FIA director Michael Masi had initially indicated lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would stay in their formation, only to change his mind, resulting in the former to claim that the race ‘has been manipulated’.
    Furious Mercedes chiefs immediately appealed the safety car decision and vowed to take their case to the FIA’s appeals court after their pleas were rejected.
    But even though many feel that Hamilton was denied victory on Sunday, Ecclestone has stated that his British compatriot can have no complaints about not winning.
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    He pointed towards an incident involving Hamilton and Verstappen at the start of the Abu Dhabi GP after their opening lap collision.
    Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “About being robbed – it’s complete and utter nonsense.
    “If you want to think about it carefully, on the first lap of that race he (Hamilton) went off the circuit and came back on again and Verstappen stayed on the circuit and did absolutely nothing wrong.
    “Lewis wasn’t punished at all for this so he shouldn’t be complaining too much.
    “These things happen all the time in sports. We shouldn’t blame the race director, he did exactly what was the right thing to do.”
    Commenting on Hamilton’s manipulation claim, Ecclestone added: “I’d like to know who has been manipulating and is clever enough to do that.
    “This was just a set of circumstances that happened and it ended an incredible world championship that I’m sure everyone was more than happy to watch.
    “I think an appeal would be the worst thing they (Mercedes) could do. It would look like they are bad losers.
    Hamilton congratulated Verstappen after he won he first Formula One World ChampionshipCredit: Getty

    “It was very level. Two guys racing each other and one was quicker than the other one. It’s a lot of nonsense.
    “It took them four hours to decide if they had a case or not so it couldn’t have been that clear.
    “Max won it fair and square which is a good thing to do. People are just as happy to see a new face win it.
    “I personally was happy that Lewis didn’t win an eighth championship because of Michael Schumacher. I wouldn’t like to see that broken.” More

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    Inside Max Verstappen’s relationship with dad Jos who was once arrested for attempted murder

    WHEN young upstart Max Verstappen sprayed fizz from the podium in Abu Dhabi as seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton looked on glumly, it marked the start of a new era in Formula One.The championship winner’s aggressive driving and outspoken comments have already riled many, including his British rival — and the young Dutchman admits his attitude comes from his fearsome father.
    Critics believe the unusual decision was to create drama for the F1 documentary Netflix was filming, Drive To SurviveCredit: AFP
    Jos ‘the Boss’ Verstappen, 49, is a former F1 driver with a violent pastCredit: Refer to Caption
    Jos “the Boss” Verstappen, 49, is a former F1 driver with a violent past, including an arrest for attempted murder, who has brutally driven on the career of his son.
    And The Sun can reveal that the three-times-married father of five has been accused of taking his tough love approach to parenting too far.
    Now the animosity between his son Max, 24, and Lewis, 36, could even outstrip the classic rivalries dotted throughout motor racing history — James Hunt v Niki Lauda in 1970s, Nigel Mansell v Nelson Piquet in the ’80s and 1990s aces Michael Schumacher v Mika Hakkinen.Red Bull driver Max paid tribute to his dad after his win on Sunday, which saw him claim his first championship after he controversially overtook Hamilton on the final lap of the final race of the season.
    Fighting back tears, he said: “My goal when I was little was to become a Formula One driver. You hope for wins, you hope to be on the podium and that, when they play the national anthem, you hope one day they play yours.
    “And when you stand here and they tell you, you are the champion, it is something incredible.
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    “Especially also my dad, some of the special moments we had here. All the things come to your mind, all the years we spent travelling for that goal and then everything comes together in the last lap. It’s insane.”
    Jos, a former team-mate of F1 legend Schumacher, boasted that Sunday’s so-called “stolen” win — slammed by critics and subject of a possible legal action by Mercedes — is in his son’s DNA.
    He said: “Max really deserved this championship. He kept fighting. He will always fight, that’s in his DNA, I guess.” Their relationship has not always been so cordial.
    In 2012, when Max was just 15, his dad kicked him out of his van as punishment for crashing in the second lap of a world championship kart race in Sarno, near Naples, Italy.
    The teen was abandoned at a petrol station until he was picked up by his mum, go-karting champion Sophie Kumpen, according to reports, and did not speak to his dad for a week.
    Max later recalled: “I should have won that race easily. On the first lap, someone overtook me and I wanted to regain my position on the next lap.
    “I tried to pass on a very fast turn. He didn’t see me and we hit.
    “My dad worked very hard that weekend and I threw it all away. He was very angry and didn’t talk to me. On the way home, about five miles away, he said something to me and we ended up arguing.”
    Jos admitted: “I didn’t speak to him for six or seven days.
    “I knew what I was doing. I think it helped him and shaped him. It is not my job to advise him now.”
    Jos is clearly not afraid of confrontation and in recent weeks he has been pouring fuel on the fire of his son’s rivalry
    Jos inherited his no-nonsense approach to parenting from his own tough guy father Frans, a publican and later ice-cream parlour owner from southern Holland.
    In 1998, just a year after Max was born, Jos and his dad were each given five-year suspended jail sentences for fracturing a man’s skull.
    They reached an out-of-court settlement with the unnamed 45-year-old victim, who was part of a group that had been arguing with the Verstappens about who got to use a karting track in the Belgian town of Lanaken.
    In December 2008, Jos was back in court in Tongeren having been charged with assaulting his wife of 12 years — Max’s mum — when his son was 11.
    He was accused of using threatening language and there were also claims that his estranged wife’s tyres had been damaged three times.
    Jos was cleared of assault but found guilty of sending threatening text messages and of violating a previous restraining order. He was fined and sentenced to three months probation.
    In November 2011 it was reported that Jos assaulted his unnamed 24-year-old girlfriend in a hotel room in Venlo, Holland, after an argument got out of hand.
    He denied the allegations saying: “There has been an altercation, yes, that’s all.” Then, in January 2012, he was arrested for attempted murder following claims that he drove a car into his ex-girlfriend in the Dutch city of Roermond.
    He was released after two weeks in jail when the charge was withdrawn due to a lack of evidence.Jos is clearly not afraid of confrontation and in recent weeks he has been pouring fuel on the fire of his son’s rivalry.
    He slammed Hamilton’s Mercedes team after the Brit had a terrifying 180mph crash with his son at Silverstone this year. Max was in hospital having checks while Hamilton celebrated on the podium.
    Jos said: “I never speak to Lewis. He doesn’t need to speak to me. I’m nothing to him. I respect him as a driver, but the rest . . . nothing.
    “Max and Lewis only speak on the podium, very little. When I see Max with other drivers, I think they get on very well. But with Lewis, nothing. Lewis is in his own world.”
    Max and Lewis are now neighbours in the tax haven of Monaco and would find they have a lot in common if they ever agreed to meet up for a drink.
    So it was no wonder that Hamilton was so upset when, following Williams’ driver Nicholas Latifi’s smash five laps from the end of Sunday’s final Grand Prix, Max was allowed to overtake a safety car to catch him up for the last lap.
    Critics believe the unusual decision was to create drama for the F1 documentary Netflix was filming, Drive To Survive. Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker tweeted afterwards: “What a joke. That stinks.”
    Max and Lewis are now neighbours in the tax haven of Monaco and would find they have a lot in common if they ever agreed to meet up for a drink.
    Hamilton was raised in Stevenage, Herts, and developed a passion for racing after his dad Anthony bought him a go-kart for Christmas when he was six.
    Max started out riding a quad bike in his garden in the Belgian border town of Bree.
    He was still a toddler when he threw such a bad tantrum demanding an upgrade that his mum phoned his dad, saying: “I think we have to buy Max a go-kart. Now.”
    Hamilton’s dad worked multiple jobs to fund his son’s training and later became his manager.
    Max spent winters skiing with F1 star Schumacher, 52, and his son Mick, now 22, until the race ace suffered serious brain injuries in a horror smash on the slopes of the French Alps.
    When Max’s parents separated, he moved in with his dad. His sister Victoria, also a racing driver, lived with his mum.
    Lewis became the first — and is still the only — black man to race in Formula One when he made his debut aged 23 in 2007.
    Max was 17 years and 166 days old when he became the youngest ever F1 driver in 2015.
    His aggressive style was branded “dangerous” in his early races — and his Brazilian model girlfriend Kelly Piquet, 33, admits it worries her.
    There is nobody harder on me than my dad, no matter what other people say. It is never that hard, compared to himMax Verstappen
    Kelly — the daughter of ex-F1 champ Nelson Piquet, and who has a daughter from a relationship with Russian driver Daniil Kvyat, 27 — said: “I’m always super-excited to support him but I am nervous that he doesn’t get hurt in an accident.”
    Finnish rival Kimi Räikkönen, now 42, warned Max “was going to cause a huge accident sooner or later”.
    Max’s mentor, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, 48, admitted his driving was “on the edge”.
    There was more upset when, after a collision with Canadian Lance Stroll, 23, Max used the words “retard” and “mongol” over the team radio at the Portuguese GP in October last year and was forced to apologise.
    Lewis sacked his father during an alleged falling out in 2010 — but Max appears closer than ever with his.
    He recently said: “My attitude all comes from my dad.
    “There is nobody harder on me than my dad, no matter what other people say. It is never that hard, compared to him.”
    Jos is clearly not afraid of confrontation and in recent weeks he has been pouring fuel on the fire of his son’s rivalryCredit: Getty
    Max and Lewis are now neighbours in the tax haven of Monaco and would find they have a lot in common if they ever agreed to meet up for a drinkCredit: Rex
    The young Dutchman admits his attitude comes from his fearsome father
    The teen was abandoned at a petrol station until he was picked up by his mum, go-karting champion Sophie Kumpen, according to reports
    Max started out riding a quad bike in his garden in the Belgian border town of Bree
    Red Bull driver Max paid tribute to his dad after his win on Sunday, which saw him claim his first championship after he controversially overtook Hamilton on the final lapCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Max Verstappen SNATCHES F1 world title from Lewis Hamilton on last lap in dramatic and controversial season enderWe pay for your stories!Do you have a story for The Sun news desk? More