Max Verstappen clarifies why he won’t take the rally path like father Jos

The father of the four-time world champion raced in Formula 1 from 1994 to 2003, before moving to other categories after leaving motorsport’s premier class, including rallying, where he also managed to build a strong reputation over the years.

However, his son Max, speaking as a guest on the Up To Speed podcast, believes the risks involved in rally cars are simply not worth it from a safety perspective: "I think it's really cool, but I just think about if I make a mistake and I hit a tree...I mean, the tree is not moving, and that for me is like my limit. That for me is something that I don't want to do.

The Dutchman expressed strong satisfaction with the work carried out so far by new Red Bull CEO and team principal Laurent Mekies, who stepped in following Christian Horner’s departure last July and managed to keep the Milton Keynes-based team firmly in the title fight until the final race of the season.

According to him, the team is currently operating in a very positive environment, strengthened by the arrival of several new faces and a renewed internal balance. He pointed to a calm and stable atmosphere within the organisation, highlighting how this sense of harmony is having a beneficial impact across the entire team.