While Max Verstappen continues to dominate the Formula One scene, his dad, Jos Verstappen, reminded everyone that motorsport can still be brutal—no matter your age or experience.
The former F1 driver, now 53, was involved in a dramatic crash on Friday afternoon during a rally stage in Sweden, and the incident gave him quite the scare.
A Rough Ride on Swedish Gravel Ends in a Flip
Jos was competing in the Royal Rally of Scandinavia, part of the FIA European Rally Championship, when things took a sudden and violent turn.
He and his co-driver, Renaud Jamoul, were navigating one of Sweden’s fast-paced gravel stages in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 when they lost control and flipped the car.
The pair had been doing well, sitting 18th overall and leading in the Masters classification.
But on stage nine, a misjudged corner spelled the end of their race.
What Went Wrong? Jos Explains the Crash
In a refreshingly honest debrief, Jos admitted the crash came down to a bit of overconfidence on unfamiliar terrain.
“I think I went a little bit too quick into the corner and missed the apex.
I was in loose gravel, slid onto the grass and just couldn’t turn the car,” he explained.
The back wheels slipped into a ditch, the car rolled over, and although the vehicle took a hit—including a cracked windscreen, some front and rear damage, and a broken damper—both Jos and Jamoul were unharmed.
No Injuries, But Lessons Learned
Although they had to retire from the race, Jos walked away grateful, calling the incident “a typical Sweden roll.”
It was only his third rally start on gravel, and he admitted the style of driving was completely foreign to him—even after 45 years behind the wheel.
“At my age, it’s not easy to change the way you’ve been racing for decades,” he joked.
“But I really enjoyed it, especially watching how the locals push so hard.
Hopefully, I can improve with more practice.”
Jos also revealed that with the next event in Poland coming up quickly, he decided it was safer to stop and inspect the car rather than risk further damage.
From F1 to Gravel Roads: Jos Still Has the Racing Bug
Despite leaving Formula One back in 2003, Jos hasn’t let retirement slow him down.
He’s committed to completing the full European rally season, using the opportunity to keep challenging himself in new ways.
And while he continues his own adventures, he’s still a constant presence in his son’s life and career.
Just last weekend, Jos was in Monaco, watching as Max finished fourth—despite having led much of the race.
That result was largely due to a mandatory two-stop pit strategy.
Still a Voice in the F1 World
Even though his main focus now is rallying, Jos isn’t afraid to speak out when it comes to Formula One—especially when it involves Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, a frequent topic of discussion for the elder Verstappen.
But for now, Jos is soaking up every rally experience, gravel tumbles and all.
And judging by his reaction, he’s not letting a little crash shake his determination.