Dr Helmut Marko has confirmed that Jos Verstappen's step into the background in recent races has been deliberate.
Until his shock mid-season graduation from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, teen sensation Max Verstappen was always side by side with his famous father, former F1 driver Jos.
However, Marko, the architect of Red Bull's driver programme, said that it was time for Max to step out on his own.
"Max is maturing," he told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
"It's not for nothing that his father is now moving into the background. Jos and lived their whole lives, just about day and night always together.
"That is now changing. Max learns to stand on his own two feet."
Verstappen has 72 points on the board going into this weekend's British Grand Prix.
