Max Verstappen speaks on the prospect of rally racing, not his future
Words: Andrew Sluys
Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has quashed any rumours about his future in rally racing, saying the sport is too dangerous.
Known for his ability to seemingly drive anything well, these comments come as a surprise, but make sense given his situation.
Verstappen made this revelation on the Up To Speed podcast, citing his dad’s success in the discipline.
“When we rent a little space on an airport, they set up a track and we drive together,” Verstappen said. “Honestly, I have to go flat out to beat him on a lap. And that I like doing.
“But on a proper stage… I mean he shares [with] 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.”
Jos Verstappen started rally racing in 2022, and managed to win the 2025 Belgian Championship.
Despite this waryness of rallying, it’s almost a guarantee that Max will find another motorsport discipline to sink his teeth into in the coming years.
He has been outspoken about his criticisms of the current Formula 1 regulations, and seems to be losing interest with each season.
Verstappen has expressed an interest in endurance racing, and made his GT debut at the Nürburgring Nordschleife last year.
