While Max Verstappen regularly criticizes the dangers of rallying, his father Jos publicly renews the challenge.
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Jos Verstappen has no intention of giving up. Engaged in rallying since 2025, the Dutchman is pushing his son Max Verstappen to come and try this discipline which he considers too dangerous.
With a touch of irony, he directly responds to the Red Bull driver’s criticisms.
“Oh yes, driving a GT3 at the Nürburgring, that’s of course very safe… he says. He should just come and try it once. And then, he will speak differently.”
A direct challenge, which says a lot about Jos’s desire to change his son’s view of rallying.
Max Verstappen remains categorical
For his part, Max Verstappen does not hide his reluctance. The main problem, according to him, lies in the very nature of the dangers in rallying.
“I just think that if I make a mistake and hit a tree… the tree, it doesn’t move, he explains. In Formula 1, most of the time, there are barriers designed to absorb the impact.”
A very pragmatic view, which highlights the fundamental difference between the secure circuits of F1 and the unpredictable roads of rallying.
A different perception of risk
Jos Verstappen acknowledges that these fears are legitimate, but insists that they disappear once inside the car.
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“He always talks about the trees, but at some point, you don’t really see them anymore” he explains.
According to him, everything relies on experience and anticipation: “We know they are there, we take them into account, but we don’t focus on them” he specifies.
An approach that illustrates how rally drivers learn to manage danger rather than suffer from it.
The key role of notes… and experience
At the heart of this risk management, the notes play an essential role. They allow anticipating every turn, every trap, and adapting the driving accordingly.
“There are places where we are more cautious. If there is a dangerous situation, we adapt our pace, explains Jos Verstappen. All this is integrated into the notes with experience.”
The former driver also admits that his approach has evolved over time.
“I think at 29, you take more risks” he confides.
An invitation still pending
Despite some recent accidents in rallying, Jos Verstappen continues to defend his discipline with conviction. And above all, he maintains his invitation.
“The invitation is extended” he sums up in substance.
Now it remains to be seen if Max Verstappen will one day accept this challenge… or if he will continue to keep his distance from a discipline he still considers too unpredictable.
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