Jos Verstappen walks away from violent rally crash as car destroyed

The Dutchman, who made his name in Formula 1 in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, went on to continue his career in other categories after his spell in the top tier came to an end, taking part in prestigious events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he won in 2008 in the LMP2 class. In recent years, he has also built a strong reputation in rallying, winning the Belgian Rally Championship title last year.

Over the current weekend, the Rally of Wallonia is taking place, a prestigious event known for its demanding nature. It is run on asphalt, making it both fast and highly technical, and is known for its narrow and twisty roads typical of the Belgian countryside, combining very high-speed sections with more technical and treacherous stretches.

Also taking part in the event is the father of the four-time Formula 1 world champion, who entered the rally alongside Belgian co-driver Jesper Vermeulen at the wheel of a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The pair were involved in a heavy off-road crash this morning, with the car left virtually wrecked. Fortunately, both escaped the incident unharmed despite the violent impact.

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast a few days ago, Ralf Schumacher reflected on Red Bull’s difficult start to 2026, suggesting the team is no longer an attractive option in its current state and describing it as a long-term project once again.

He pointed to the ongoing engine development as a positive, but raised concerns over what he sees as a lack of structure and clear direction within the team, as well as unclear communication externally, also noting the absence of Helmut Marko as a guiding figure. Jos Verstappen, however, dismissed those remarks outright, brushing them off as nonsense.