Jos Verstappen, father of four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, saw his Rallye de Wallonie campaign come to a premature end on Sunday morning after a serious accident. The reigning Belgian Rally Champion walked away unscathed from the incident alongside his stand-in navigator Jasper Vermeulen, despite their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 sustaining major damage.
The weekend had already proven turbulent for Verstappen Sr before Sunday’s crash. Competing in the Belgian Rally Championship round, he was hit with a 40-second time penalty early on for exceeding the speed limit during a road section between stages. The sanction dropped him down to 17th overall, leaving him with a mountain to climb if he wanted to salvage a strong result.
Demonstrating the resilience that has defined his motorsport career, Verstappen mounted an impressive fightback on Saturday. Although his car picked up additional damage during the fourth stage, he refused to let the setbacks define his rally. His pace was undeniable: he claimed a stage win in SS9 and then repeated the feat in the final test of the day at Marche-Les-Dames. Those victories propelled him from deep in the field all the way back to third overall, slotting in behind Adrian Fernémont and Maxime Potty as the rally headed into its decisive Sunday leg.
Sunday’s drama unfolded during the Loyers stage. Verstappen lost control of his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, with the car sliding off the road and making heavy contact with a tree. The impact caused extensive damage to the Sarrazin Motorsport-prepared machine, but both Verstappen and Vermeulen were able to exit the wreckage without injury. Images that emerged later from the scene underscored the severity of the crash, with the front end of the rally car heavily compromised. The retirement was confirmed shortly after, marking a frustrating end to what had been shaping up as a remarkable comeback drive.
The 2025 Rallye de Wallonie also presented Verstappen with an added layer of complexity off the stages. His regular co-driver, Renaud Jamoul, was forced to sit out the event after undergoing surgery for a broken ankle. In his place, Jasper Vermeulen stepped in. Vermeulen typically calls the notes for driver Cedric Cherain and had to adapt quickly to Verstappen’s system. Notably, this rally marked Vermeulen’s first time delivering pace notes in English, as Verstappen prefers to work in English rather than Dutch or French.
Despite the unfamiliar partnership, the pair quickly developed a solid working relationship. Speaking after Saturday’s action, Verstappen Sr praised Vermeulen’s adaptability and professionalism. “It was Jasper’s first time using notes in English since we normally stick to our usual system, but everything went smoothly and the car felt great,” Verstappen said. He remained upbeat heading into Sunday, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of rallying. “It’s incredibly exciting, and we’re not giving up. Tomorrow is a new day, anything can happen,” he noted on Saturday evening.
That optimism was ultimately cut short by the Loyers stage accident. Still, the fact that both crew members emerged unhurt was the most important outcome from a heavy impact. Safety standards in modern Rally2 machinery, including the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2’s strong roll cage and energy-absorbing structure, played a crucial role in protecting the crew.
For Verstappen Sr, 53, the Rallye de Wallonie was another chapter in his second motorsport career. After competing in Formula 1 between 1994 and 2003, including a stint with Benetton alongside Michael Schumacher, he transitioned to rallying in recent years. He found considerable success in Belgium, clinching the Belgian Rally Championship title and earning a reputation as a committed and fast competitor on the national stages.
His participation also continues to draw attention due to his family connection. As the father of Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, Jos remains a familiar figure in the paddock and to motorsport fans worldwide. His rallying exploits have allowed him to carve out his own niche, separate from his son’s dominant F1 career, while showcasing his enduring passion for competition.
While the crash ended his hopes of a podium at Wallonie, Verstappen’s Saturday performance reinforced his speed and determination. Charging from 17th to 3rd in a single day, despite penalties and car damage, highlighted why he remains a frontrunner in the Belgian series. The DNF will be a setback in his title defense, but with several rounds still remaining in the 2025 Belgian Rally Championship, his campaign is far from over.
Sarrazin Motorsport now faces a rebuild job on the Fabia RS Rally2 before the next event. Meanwhile, Renaud Jamoul is expected to return to the co-driver’s seat once recovered, reuniting the regular partnership that has delivered Verstappen much of his recent success.
In rallying, incidents like Sunday’s are an inherent risk, and the outcome could have been much worse. For Jos Verstappen and Jasper Vermeulen, the Rallye de Wallonie will be remembered as a weekend of highs, lows, and ultimately relief that both men walked away unharmed.
