Sébastien Ogier says he would gladly welcome Max Verstappen to check a World Rally Championship automotive, ought to the four-time Method 1 world champion want to add rallying to his extracurricular motorsport actions.
9-time world rally champion Ogier attended the Nurburgring 24 Hours, the place he witnessed Verstappen problem for the victory alongside his Winward-Mercedes team-mates Dani Juncadealla, Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon.
Following the race, Ogier congratulated Verstappen on his pace in a social media put up, whereas additionally suggesting that the Purple Bull F1 driver ought to strive rallying as his subsequent problem and comply with his father Jos Verstappen, who competes within the Belgian Rally Championship. Verstappen then provided a cheeky reply to Ogier, saying “you as trainer?”.
Verstappen is a fan of rallying and has quite a lot of respect for the self-discipline. Final 12 months he loved driving Ogier’s 2018 WRC title profitable M-Sport Ford Fiesta on a circuit as a part of a promotional video for Ford.
Throughout an interview in February on the Up To Velocity podcast, Verstappen dismissed the thought of going aggressive rallying sooner or later.
”I feel it is actually cool, however I simply take into consideration if I make a mistake and I hit that tree, I imply the tree is just not shifting. That, for me, is my restrict. That, for me, is one thing that I do not wish to do. It is simply too excessive of a threat,” he stated.
Talking forward of this weekend’s Rally Japan, Ogier was requested by Motorsport about his social media change with Verstappen, with the Frenchman admitting he would welcome the four-time F1 world champion to a take a look at ought to he ever want to expertise a WRC automotive in full flight.
“It was type of a joke you make on social media, however clearly he likes new experiences and issues like this,” stated Ogier.
Sebastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Picture by: Toyota Racing
“He has pushed my previous Fiesta already as soon as final 12 months nevertheless it wasn’t in the perfect place, it was on a circuit. I advised him that should you actually wish to [drive it] it’s good to strive it in a correct place as a result of a circuit is just not superb for the automotive. However I’m positive a man like him could possibly be attracted at one level [to rallying], so why not?
“My reply was sincere, I stated if he needs to hitch for a take a look at I might be comfortable to welcome him.”
After attending the Nurburgring 24 Hours, Ogier’s full focus is on profitable this week’s Rally Japan after shedding a possible victory following a penultimate-stage puncture whereas main Rally Portugal earlier this month.
Ogier claimed victory the final time the WRC headed to Japan in November final 12 months and has began his 2026 bid by topping Thursday’s shakedown.
“I are inclined to have a robust character and when issues don’t go my manner [referring to Rally Portugal] I push it much more to make it go my manner,” he added.
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