Max Verstappen, four-time Formula 1 champion, revealed the reasons why he does not intend to follow the path taken by his father, Jos Verstappen, a former F1 driver who started racing in Rally events. During an appearance on the ‘Up To Speed’ podcast, Max made it clear that, despite finding Rally ‘very cool’, the safety and risks involved are decisive factors in his decision.
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“I think it’s very cool, but I think about the risk. If I make a mistake and hit a tree… I mean, the tree isn’t moving, and that, for me, is my limit,” Verstappen stated. He said that the nature of Rally racing, where obstacles are fixed and the risk of impact is higher, is not something he is willing to face: “It’s a very high risk. I know it might sound silly, but in F1, at least, when you crash, there is usually a barrier designed to absorb the impact. That, for me, makes a difference,” the Dutch driver stated.
The Red Bull Racing driver highlighted that, although Rally is an impressive discipline, he prefers to focus on F1 racing, where safety advancements offer a sense of greater protection, even though the risk never completely disappears.
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Finally, Verstappen made it clear that Rally is out of his plans, reaffirming his commitment to Formula 1 and the constant search for excellence within the category, in addition to having previously commented on his growing interest in endurance racing, where he has already participated in some events, with his future after F1 potentially being in the WEC (World Endurance Championship).
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