Verstappen Sr steps back from managing Max

Max made his Formula 1 debut last year with Toro Rosso at the age of 17 and impressed right away with his speed.

The Dutchman was moved up to Red Bull's leading team from this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix and for the remainder of the season, as Daniil Kvyat was sent to Toro Rosso in his place.

His father Jos says that now Max is in a top team, it is the right moment for him to take a step back and let his son and Red Bull handle his career.

"I'm allowed to go in the garage, that's no problem, but I think in this stage of his career it's better to take another step back because he is now where he needs to be and it's about Max and not about his dad," Verstappen said when asked by Motorsport.com.

"I did my job until now and he is in a top team now, where he should be, and it's fine.

"I also stopped a column with a newspaper because I don't want to be in the front now. I want to be in the back. Now it's up to Helmut [Marko], up to Christian [Horner], up to Max, to say what they want to say, and not up to me."

Jos said the decision to step back has been his.

Verstappen Jr qualified in fourth place for his first grand prix with Red Bull in Spain, and Jos conceded he was delighted with his son's performance.

"I think it's not up to me to say something about it, because it's more down to Max, of course," Jos added.

"I'm here as a father. The only thing I want to say is I'm very happy with what he has done today."

Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov