An ambitious five-year plan is set to propel Red Bull junior Rocco Coronel (14) as close to Formula 1 as possible. According to Tom Coronel, he spends nine days a week coaching and guiding his son, who is making a name for himself in motorsport this year as a rookie. The latter also occasionally receives advice from Max Verstappen…
In the middle of the interview at their own karting center in Huizen, a surprising confession emerges. Five years ago, during a family vacation in Ibiza, Rocco Coronel – then nine – borrowed his father’s mobile phone in an unguarded moment to quickly copy Max Verstappen’s number. “Then I just texted Max to ask him something,” he says.
Rocco Coronel takes a sip of his cola, pulls out his mobile phone, and scrolls back through his WhatsApp history to find his first question to Max Verstappen. ‘What do I need to do to become as good as you?’ Verstappen’s response didn’t take long: ‘Be eager to learn, never be satisfied with what you achieve, and always try to analyze what can be improved. And just keep pushing!’
Tom Coronel listens to his son’s anecdote with a smile. “I find it funny and beautiful at the same time. Because this shows that Rocco does things on his own, that he is not being directed, but is actively seeking ways to improve and gather information. And I think it’s great that Max always responds. I think he secretly finds this amusing too. In fact, I reckon Max could have done something like this at that age himself.”
