Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen comes from a rich background of racing. While most people are familiar with his father Jos Verstappen and his exploits in Formula 1, less is known about his mother, Sophie Kumpen, who was also an accomplished racing driver in her own right. Beyond Jos, Max has often credited Sophie as one of the biggest influences behind his success on the track. Let’s take a closer look at Sophie Kumpen and her impressive career in karting.
### Sophie Kumpen’s Racing Career: A Family Legacy
From an early age, Sophie Kumpen was inspired by her uncle, Paul Kumpen, a rally driver in his prime. Racing clearly runs in the family—Paul’s son and Sophie’s cousin, Anthony Kumpen, is a two-time NASCAR Euro Series champion.
Sophie began karting at the age of 11, motivated by the example set by her uncle and cousin. She competed in the Junior Karting Championship and even raced against a young Christian Horner in 1989. Horner, of course, would go on to become CEO and team principal of Red Bull Racing. The British motorsport executive later described Sophie as being “top 10 in the world” in the junior karting category during that period.
Throughout her karting career, Sophie Kumpen competed alongside several future Formula 1 stars, including Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jan Magnussen, Dario Franchitti, and Jenson Button, with whom she was even teammates.
Hailing from Hasselt, Belgium, Sophie raced in the Karting World Championship for four consecutive seasons, from 1991 to 1994. In 1995, she claimed her most notable victory by winning the Andrea Margutti Trophy—her only major championship title.
### Retirement and Brief Return
In 1996, Sophie retired from racing after marrying Jos Verstappen. She then shifted her focus to supporting her husband’s Formula 1 career and raising their two children: Max and Victoria Verstappen.
Sophie made a brief comeback in 2013 by competing in the Formido Swift Cup. Unfortunately, her return was cut short following an accident at Zandvoort where she suffered a broken vertebra, prompting her to retire once again from competitive racing.
### Max Verstappen’s Heartfelt Tribute to His Mother
In a recent conversation with Hollywood stuntman Riley Harper, Max Verstappen paid a touching tribute to his mother, acknowledging the sacrifices she made that paved the way for his own racing journey.
Max humorously reflected that he was the reason Sophie ended her racing career, as she stopped competing when she became pregnant with him in 1996:
> “My mum used to race in go-karts against drivers who also made it to F1, like Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella. So I would say the racing side of things in the family is really strong. She basically stayed in go-karting until she got pregnant with me. So I basically finished her career,” he joked.
Max also shared a beautiful family tradition: before every Formula 1 race, Sophie lights a candle for him. The 28-year-old revealed that their message exchanges are often filled with photos of these candles, a ritual she has maintained for over 11 years.
—
Sophie Kumpen’s legacy in motorsport extends beyond her own achievements, playing an integral role in nurturing one of the most successful racing talents of this generation. Her dedication and passion continue to inspire Max Verstappen as he competes at the highest level in Formula 1.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/was-max-verstappen-s-mother-racer-all-sophie-kumpen-s-racing-career
