Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, has responded to health rumours circulating on social media.

Concerns about Verstappen’s health were raised after a doctored image of the ex-F1 driver circulated. After appearing on a Viaplay segment, someone took a still from the video and used AI to depict Verstappen as ill.

Although many immediately recognised the photo as fake, some news sites published it as real.

Verstappen Sr. took it to Instagram to clear up the confusion, posting a photo of himself sitting in the car with the caption: “Everything is fine with me. I’m not sick, just having a bad hair day,”

Verstappen Sr. has been a long-standing feature in the paddock from his own F1 career to supporting his son through his F1 journey.

Jos Verstapppen denies Christian Horner claims

In his new book, Christian Horner recently claimed that Red Bull signed his son because of Verstappen Sr., adding that Helmut Marko was initially against the signing.

Marko denied the claims, and Ralf Schumacher chimed in and confessed that Horner’s story was an ‘absolute lie’.

“Marko approached Max when he was just 11 and a half years old,” Schumacher claimed. 

“At the time, Jos said it was still too early for him. The doctor, as you know him, was a bit miffed and said: ‘Okay, if you don’t want to, then so be it.’”

Marko added to the story: “It worked out well the way it did. Max was successful in karting back then, and we had no idea about that. 

“Later in Formula 3, we would have grown closer again, and that’s how this unprecedented success story came about.”

Verstappen’s confirmation of his health will no doubt please his legions of fans.