This crash was a real frightening moment for all motorsport fans! Jos Verstappen, father of four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, caused a fiery accident during a rally race in Belgium on Sunday. The 54-year-old lost control of his vehicle, left the track and crashed into a track post.
His car overturned and ended up in the bushes. The most positive news about it: Both Jos Verstappen and his co-driver Jasper Vermeulen were able to get out of the completely destroyed vehicle, a Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2, uninjured.
After the crash, the Dutchman himself reported on the dramatic moments of the accident: “There was gravel and I think I went into the curve a little too fast. The car spun at the exit of the curve. We crashed into a post, whereupon the car spun on its own axis and we landed on the roof,” Michael Schumacher’s former Benetton teammate was quoted as saying in the “Bild”.
The accident occurred in a fast left-right combination in which Verstappen obviously lost control. “It was a serious accident, but it shows that we are in safe cars. I am glad that we got away safely,” continued Verstappen.
Jos Verstappen drove over 100 times in Formula 1
It was particularly bitter for the father of Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen: up until that moment, despite a previous time penalty, he was in good shape in the race and had fought his way up to third place.
Co-driver Vermeulen only stepped in at short notice after regular co-driver Renaud Jamoul had to miss the race due to injury. Despite the difficult starting position, the team showed a strong performance. The spectacular end was all the more bitter.
Last year, Verstappen senior celebrated winning the title in Belgium and thus achieved one of his greatest successes since his active time in long-distance racing.
Between 1994 and 2003 he competed in 107 races in Formula 1 and was on the podium twice.
