Max Verstappen: Why Rallying is Not on His Racing Bucket List
Max Verstappen may share a last name with a rally enthusiast, but he's steering clear of the rally scene due to its immovable obstacles and inherent risks. As he contemplates his F1 career, Verstappen is keeping his need for speed strictly within the confines of the circuit.
Max Verstappen, the man who makes F1 domination look like a casual Sunday drive, recently opened up about why rallying won't be his next motorsport conquest. While his father, Jos Verstappen, navigates the rally world with the verve of a man half his age, Max is staying firmly in the Formula 1 paddock, and for some pretty solid reasons.
On the "Up To Speed" podcast, when asked about his dad's adrenaline-fueled escapades, Max admitted, "Itâs pretty crazy, to be honest. My dad is in his early 50s, going wheel to wheel with drivers in their prime, and often leaving them in the dust. It's impressiveâborderline insane, actually." Yet, while he admires Jos's rally prowess, Max isn't eager to swap tarmac for dirt tracks anytime soon.
Why, you ask? Well, thereâs the small matter of rallying's 'trees-don't-move' issue. "In F1, when you crash, there's usually a barrier to soften the blow. In rallying, if you hit a tree, let's just say the tree wins," Max quipped. His seasoned F1 head tells him the risk of rallying doesnât quite justify the reward.
Despite his reluctance to venture into rallying, Max isnât devoid of extracurricular racing interests. When heâs not busy bagging World Championship titles, heâs setting his sights on GT Racing, with the Nurburgring 24 Hours circled on his calendar as a new challenge.
Reflecting on the Verstappen familyâs racing saga, Max noted, "Weâll probably appreciate our journey even more when I hang up my racing gloves. Then, we can kick back with a beer and relish the memories." Until that time comes, rally fans will have to make do with half the Verstappen household living on the edge.
Maxâs approach to racing is a testament to his relentless focus and love for the trackâjust the one that doesnât have trees waiting to play tag.