After Gianpiero Lambiase’s exit from Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s uncertain future in Formula 1, Max’s father Jos Verstappen, has thrown down a direct challenge to his son Max Verstappen, urging the four-time world champion to experience rallying first-hand after repeatedly calling the discipline dangerous.
The former F1 driver, now competing in the European Rally Championship since 2025, responded sharply to Max’s concerns, even pointing at his son’s own motorsport choices outside Formula One.
Jos Verstappen Responds With Sarcasm and Challenge
“No, racing in a GT3 at the Nürburgring, that’s nice and safe…” Jos Verstappen said sarcastically in an interview with Formula 1 Magazine. “He should just come and do it once, so here goes, Max… And then he’ll talk differently about it.”
The remark comes after Max Verstappen’s repeated reluctance to explore rallying, despite his openness to other forms of racing.
Max Verstappen’s Concern: ‘The Tree Is Not Moving’
In a conversation with the To Speed podcast, Max Verstappen already made it clear why rallying doesn’t appeal to him.
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He said: “I just think about if I make a mistake and I hit a tree…the tree is not moving, and that for me is like my limit.”
The Red Bull Racing driver contrasted rallying with Formula 1, where crashes are often absorbed by safety barriers designed to reduce impact.
Jos Verstappen acknowledged his son’s concerns but insisted that rally drivers don’t operate blindly at high speed.
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Jos said, “He always talks about the trees and so on, but at a certain point, you don’t see those trees anymore. You know they’re there. You take them into account. But you don’t focus on them. However, you know they’re there, and that’s important.”
He stressed that rallying is built on calculated risk, not reckless driving. According to Jos Verstappen, rallying relies heavily on pace notes, detailed instructions that guide drivers through corners, terrain changes and potential hazards before they even see them.
He explained, “There are places on a stage where you’re a bit more cautious. “If there’s a dangerous situation, then you’re more careful. But you learn all that to incorporate it into your notes.”
The system allows drivers to maintain speed while managing risks across unpredictable road conditions.
So, whether Max Verstappen will accept the challenge remains unclear. But Jos has made his stance clear that rallying deserves to be experienced, not judged from the outside.
Also read: McLaren Chief Zak Brown Welcomes Gianpiero Lambiase, Says ‘Excited for the Future’
