Jos Verstappen, the father of four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, escaped unharmed after a dramatic rally car crash at the Rallye de Wallonie in Belgium on Sunday. The 54-year-old former F1 driver lost control of his vehicle during the Loyers special stage, crashing into a tree. Photographs from the scene show the car flipped upside down, but Verstappen and his co-driver Jasper Vermeulen emerged without injury.
Crash details
The incident occurred while Verstappen Snr. was competing in the rally, where he was running in third place. According to the competition's social media channels, his car went off the road in a 'violent' manner. The Dutchman was racing without his usual co-driver Renaud Jamoul, who recently underwent surgery for an ankle injury.
Background and career
Jos Verstappen is the reigning national rally champion and has been a regular fixture in Formula 1 paddocks over the past 11 years, supporting his son Max at the Red Bull garage. He is also a former F1 driver himself, having competed in 106 grands prix and achieved two podiums.
Recently, Verstappen Snr. has commented on the new F1 regulations for the 2026 season, which have been heavily criticised by his son Max. The younger Verstappen has indicated he may consider quitting the sport at the end of the season. Speaking to Racexpress, Jos Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction with the new rules: 'It's madness to say that GT3 is a better race than Formula 1. It used to be the other way round. All those GT3 lads were desperate to get a taste of what it's like in Formula 1, but these days that's hard to come by.'
He added: 'As a driver, I find it less enjoyable too. Every now and then, I'm watching and I switch the TV off because I'm less interested. It's not the Formula 1 that Formula 1 stands for. The driver has to rely heavily on the car and can no longer make a difference as a driver. I think that's a shame in Formula 1. Look, you have to brake late, but you can't brake too late either. Yet in fast corners, you really need to be able to make a difference, like in the first sector in Japan. You just can't do that with this car and certainly not with that battery that you have to keep recharging.'
The next F1 race is the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for 1-3 May.
