Jos Verstappen

Johannes Franciscus Verstappen , known as Jos Verstappen , (born the March 4th 1972 with Montfort with the Netherlands) is a racing driver Dutch. From 1994 to 2003, it disputed 107 GP of Formule 1, took down two 3rd places and marked 17 points.

It was called by its fans “ Jos the boss ”.

Biography

Its beginnings in competition

In 1980, Jos begins its career from pilot by the Karting, and rather badly since it finishes his first race at the hospital… This accident does not discourage it, and Jos becomes champion of the Netherlands in 1983 and 1984. It continues on its impetus and becomes champion of the Benelux countries in 1986, champion of Europe in 1989 and champion of Belgium in 1991.

Its good performances give access to him the Opel Formula in 1992. He then becomes champion of the Benelux countries and the Netherlands.

In 1993, it passes in German Formule 3 in stable WTS Dallara - Opel. Its supremacy is without equal: 8 marked victories and 269 points. It gains the championship, Masters Series of Zandwoort and finishes 3rd in Monaco. It then starts to interest the small world of F1.

Formula 1

Its manager, old driver of F1 and compatriot Huub Rothengatter obtain to him a test at Footwork with the end of the year. Its performances do not pass unperceived and arouse the interest of several teams, of which McLaren. But it is finally engaged by Benetton in the capacity as pilot tester, at the sides of Michael Schumacher and JJ Lehto. Following the unavailability of Lehto, touched with the vertebrae at the time of an accident which has occurred during the winter tests, Verstappen carries out its beginnings in Grand Prix as of the first sleeve of the season, in Brazil. It is distinguished there while being implied in a spectacular pile-up with three other competitors and while being left unscathed a series barrels. In Imola, for the third handle of the championship, Lehto carries out its return and Verstappen finds its post of tester. But starting from the GP of France, Benetton draws aside Lehto because of its lack of performances, and establishes the Dutch pilot again. A few weeks later, with the GP of Germany, it is again victim of a spectacular incident when its car blazes up at the time of a supply in race. Slightly burned with the face, it is " dédommagé" of its emotions while finishing 3rd behind Schumacher and Damon Hill with the GP of Hungary the following week. It takes down a new podium with the GP of Belgium after the disqualification of Schumacher. But its results do not satisfy truly Benetton, which replaces it by Johnny Herbert for the two last sleeves of the season, decisive for the attribution of the world title of the pilots. In spite of this first season in dotted line, Verstappen is classified 10th championship of the world of the pilots.

In 1995, Flavio Briatore, owner of Benetton also support the small stable Simtek of Nick Wirth: Simtek S 951 has a Benetton gear box and is led by Jos. The performances of the single-seater are modest but Verstappen succeeds of the prowesses under tests qualifiers. He manages to take the departure of 5 GP before Simtek does not leave F1, after the GP of Monaco, fault of financial means.

In 1996, it signs at Footwork, the stable which half-opened the doors of F1 to him. As of its fourth GP, it registers 1 point at the wheel of Footwork- Hart FA17. But will be the only one to carry to its credit, the car suffering from large preoccupations with a reliability.

In 1997, it is called by Tyrrell to control news 027, but the stable is not any more what it was: Jos becomes one accustomed of the funds of grid and does not mark only one point. Craig Pollock repurchases the stable at the end of the season and dismisses it.

Verstappen is without wheel in 1998 when he is contacted by Stewart. It replaces then Jan Magnussen starting from the GP of France at the wheel of the SF-02. But Jos does not get along with Jackie Stewart and leaves the team at the end of the season after 7 GP without to have registered of point.

In 1999, Harvey Postlethwaite is charged by Honda with designing the single-seater which will sign the return of the Nipponese stable in GP: Verstappen is recruited to develop future RA 99. But Postlethwaite dies of an heart attack and Honda gives up the project. Verstappen is again without wheel.

In 2000, it joined the rows of Arrows. The stable has limited resources but Jos, at the wheel of A21, finishes 5th with the GP of Canada and 4th in Monza, which enables him to point in the 12th place of the classification pilots. It prolongs its contract in 2001, at the wheel of A22 but marks only one point with the GP of Austria. It is replaced in 2002 by Heinz-Harald Frentzen and does not manage to take down a bucket in F1.

It disputes in 2003 its last season of F1 at the wheel of the Minardi - Cosworth PS03. But he does not manage to make progress the single-seater and leaves the world of F1 over one white season.

After-F1

Jos Verstappen disputed several races in the category A1 Grand Prix

Prize list

1983 : Karting, champion of the Netherlands
1984: Karting, champion of the Netherlands
1986: Karting, champion of the Benelux countries
1989: Karting, champion of Europe
1991: Karting, champion of Belgium
1992: Formulate Opel, Champion of the Benelux countries , champion of the Netherlands
1992: Formulate Pacifique, 4th championship of News Zealand
1993: Formula 3, champion of Germany
1994: Formulate 1, Benetton Ford - 10 GP - 10th with 10 points
1995: Formulate 1, Simtek Ford - 5 GP - not classified with the championship
1996: Formulate 1, Footwork Hart - 16 GP - 16th with 1 point
1997: Formulate 1, Tyrrell Ford - 17 GP - not classified with the championship
1998: Formulate 1, Stewart Ford - 9 GP - not classified with the championship
2000: Formulate 1, Arrows Supertec - 17 GP - 12th with 5 points
2001: Formulate 1, Arrows Asiatech - 17 GP - 18th with 1 point
2003: Formulate 1, Minardi Cosworth - 16 GP - not classified with the championship

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