Gino Rosato: Jos Verstappen produced the biggest beast in F1

Rosato has been a constant presence at Ferrari for decades. A Mr Do-It-All for the Scuderia, he has worked closely with multiple generations of drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, and most recently, Carlos Sainz. Photos of Rosato with team principals from Jean Todt through to Fred Vasseur are plentiful. He is ever-present. And his connections stretch far beyond the Ferrari garage.

Ever-present, Rosato is much like F1's Zelig. And his reach goes beyond the Red side of the paddock, he is good buddies with the Verstappens, both Max and Jos. Speaking on the Pitstop podcast, he offered a rare personal insight into the family behind the World Champion.

Rosato said: “Jos is pure. Don't mess with him. He's a pure guy, an honest guy. He's old-school," and defended Jos Verstappen’s famously hard-nosed approach to parenting and training Max adding: “What are you going to tell him? He did a bad job?

"Jos produced the biggest beast in Formula 1. If you throw shit in the garden, the plants will grow. He produced a true gentleman, a great driver, but one with an old work ethic. He used to leave Max behind at the go-kart track and things like that."

Rosato continued: "I think the world is missing that a bit. I sometimes see parents who pamper their child all the time.

"Then I think, 'What does he need?' Jos is more like, 'Figure it out for yourself, go for it, you want to be the best and this is what it takes.' Max is a national hero; everyone wants to be like him," he added , suggesting the result justifies the means.

Rosato praised Max's authenticity and placed him at the top of the modern F1 hierarchy: “It's also human to point to someone who's at the top. You did this. They're all looking for details. But let's be honest, after Michael Schumacher's departure, Max has undoubtedly been the best driver. And then you see him off the track. Then he's just completely himself.”

Rosato also shared his admiration for the Verstappen family dynamic, drawing comparisons between Max and his godson, Robin Raikkonen, the son of Kimi, with whom Gino was close during 'The Iceman's' time at Ferrari.

“He's very much like Kimi in that respect," recalled Rosato of the Finn. "Max has a bit more bite, is a bit more open-minded. Kimi stays quiet when he disagrees with something, while Max can sometimes lash out.

"If I send Max or Jos a message, I get a reply within two minutes. It's just a family of pure and kind people who do a fantastic job. A family story of a father teaching his son how the real world works," added Rosato.