Jos Verstappen, the father of Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, was involved in a serious crash at the Rally of Wallonia on Sunday but emerged unharmed, according to multiple reports. His Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 flipped upside down and sustained severe damage after colliding with a tree, reports said. No one was seriously injured in the incident, according to reports.
Verstappen entered the rally alongside co-driver Jesper Vermeulen, but the pair were forced to retire after the crash, reports said. The Rally of Wallonia is held on asphalt surfaces, according to reports. The car had already been carrying some damage from an earlier incident on the fourth stage of the event, reports said. Despite that, Verstappen mounted an aggressive comeback, lifting him into third place behind Adrian Fernemont and Maxime Potty at the end of Saturday's play, according to reports.
I'm all good.
According to GPblog, Jos Verstappen described himself as 'all good' after the crash. This incident adds to a challenging weekend for the Verstappen family.
Jos Verstappen was without his regular co-driver Renaud Jamoul for this year's Rally of Wallonia due to Jamoul undergoing surgery for an ankle injury, according to reports. Vermeulen stepped in as a replacement.
I'm thinking about everything inside this paddock. Privately I'm very happy. You also wait for 24 races. This time it's 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's career in Formula 1 is under scrutiny as fans await the Miami Grand Prix, according to reports. The race calendar has been disrupted this month, with events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to reports. Max Verstappen has been critical of the FIA's new rules and regulations, claiming that the fun has been sucked out of racing, according to reports. He finished eighth in Japan, according to reports. According to the BBC, Max Verstappen described thinking about everything inside the paddock and questioning whether it is worth it, or if he would enjoy being more at home with his family and friends when not enjoying the sport.
The extent of the damage from the earlier fourth-stage incident is unknown. It is not yet known whether Jos Verstappen will continue in the Rally of Wallonia or other rallies. Similarly, it is unclear which specific new FIA rules Max Verstappen is criticizing, and whether he is seriously considering leaving Formula 1.