The four-time Formula 1 world champion loves driving a rally car, but doesn't plan to compete in the sport
Photography by Red Bull & Belgian Rally Championship
Words by Luke Barry
Max Verstappen is known to be nearer the end of his Formula 1 career than the beginning. He’s admitted that many times.
Verstappen is also known not to be a big fan of F1’s new set of technical regulations for 2026, which he has labelled as “like Formula E on steroids”.
It therefore seems likely that the 28-year-old will choose a new path in the motorsport world sooner rather than later.
Endurance, or GT, racing seems an obvious fit, but what about rallying? Could the four-time F1 champion follow his father, Jos, into motorsport’s muddier side?
Jos started contesting rallies in 2022 and won last year’s Belgian championship in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. That’s increased Max’s awareness of the discipline, and in a recent shoot with Red Bull he selected an ex-Sébastien Ogier Fiesta WRC as his favorite car among several Ford road and race machines.
Jos Verstappen has rallied since 2022, and found success
Clearly Verstappen Jr has a love and an appreciation for rallying, but appearing on the Up To Speed podcast he said he never plans to compete in it.
“When we rent a little space on an airport, they set out a track and we [my dad and I] drive together, honestly I have to go flat out to beat him on a lap. And that I like doing,” Verstappen said.
“But on a proper stage… I mean he shares me all the videos he’s doing in whatever kind of rally car he’s driving, I find it impressive, I think it’s really cool. But I just think about if I make a mistake and I hit that tree, the tree is not moving.
“That for me is like my limit, that’s something I don’t want to do. It’s too high of a risk and I know it sounds maybe a bit silly, but in Formula 1 most of the time when you crash there is a properly-designed barrier that should absorb the impact a bit more.
“It’s just a bit different in my head at least, and it’s just a risk I’m not willing to take. But it is really cool to see, like the Monaco [Monte Carlo] Rally in WRC, it’s unbelievable what these guys do.”
Verstappen enjoys driving rally cars, but isn't comfortable with the risk of competition
Max also has a lot of respect for Jos’ achievements in rallying to-date, praising his dedication.
“It’s pretty crazy to be honest. Honestly what I find really impressive is he’s about to be 54 and racing against drivers in their late 20s, early 30s, and in some championships he’s beating them.
“In rallying, a lot goes through notes but at the end of the day when you do a certain rally a few times, you go off muscle memory a little bit, for sure. So if you do it for a few years you get better at it, naturally, and he’s very good at it to be honest.
“He loves it, he’s such a fan of the rallying as well. He’s spending a lot of time on it, to optimize everything in the car.”
Verstappen Sr kicks off his Belgian title defense in a Citroën C3 Rally2 at this weekend’s Rally van Haspengouw. One week later, Verstappen Jr will begin the 12th season of his Formula 1 career with his Red Bull Racing team.
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen
Publish Date February 26, 2026 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2026/02/OS4HodP6-SI202602190667-780x520.jpg February 26, 2026
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