The name Verstappen is usually synonymous with speed, but on the roads of Belgium, it has also been synonymous with danger. Jos Verstappen, father of the current Formula 1 Red Bull team leader, was the star of the day when he suffered a spectacular accident during the Rally of Wallonia. The Dutchman, who was running at a competitive pace, lost control of his vehicle, went off the track and ended up overturning, leaving his car seriously damaged. That he escaped unscathed is a real miracle considering the terrible images and how the car was left.
At the age of 54, and having closed his career in single-seaters and endurance prototypes, Jos has found a second competitive youth in rallying. Unlike his son Max, who recently ruled out trying this discipline, Jos has become a regular in the Belgian championship.
A blood-curdling twist
The impact, according to eyewitnesses, was considerable. Jos lost control in one of the fast sections, causing the car to roll over several times. The incident occurred during the morning of this weekend's competition. Jos, who was pushing his car to the limit on the demanding Belgian asphalt stages, lost control of his car in a critical area of the road. The mistake cost him dearly, as the car ended up leaving the road and overturning spectacularly, causing significant material damage to the structure of the vehicle. Images of the condition of the car made it clear the magnitude of the impact.
Unharmed, the best news
In a sport where risk is taken at every corner, the silence that follows an accident is always the most tense moment. However, the best news was soon confirmed. Both the former Formula 1 driver and his co-driver, Jasper Vermeulen, managed to get out of the vehicle on their own and are in perfect health. The safety of today's rally cars has once again proved its effectiveness at a truly critical moment.
Time to think about revenge
Evidently, this heavy blow means the premature end of Jos' participation in the Rally of Wallonia. With the car unusable, the team is forced to pack up early. Nevertheless, the Dutchman will have to be patient and wait for the next round of his rally program to redeem himself from this zero. Despite the accident, Jos has already made it clear in previous events that his competitive gene is still intact and that he has the talent and pure speed to be a formidable rival away from traditional circuits.