Jos Verstappen seals Belgian Rally Championship title

The result this weekend was enough to secure the crown with one round still to go, marking a major milestone for Verstappen senior, father of four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max.

A podium in the 12-stage rally around Bütgenbach, Amel, Sankt-Vith and Burg-Reuland was all Verstappen and Jamoul needed. Their cautious approach paid off as they wrapped up the championship on the penultimate weekend.

Champagne-soaked Verstappen declared after celebrating: “We are really happy,” said a . “This wasn’t the most interesting of rallies as we kept it safe with our tyre choices. At the end, we did have the right tyres and we were able to be faster, but we took it easy on the final stage. We wanted to secure the championship; that was the main goal today.”

The 52-year-old has quickly established himself in Belgian rallying. “In the space of a couple of years, Jos has taken the Belgian rally world by storm,” read the verdict from local observers, and Verstappen himself admitted the success was down to preparation and teamwork.

“You always try to be as prepared as possible and have the right people around you. Renaud is, of course, very important in all of this. We enjoy working together, and it’s great to fight at the front. The enjoyment is there, and the results follow. We are competitive, which also helps us enjoy ourselves.”

The pair made a steady start in East Belgium with P2, P3 and two P4s in the opening four stages. Conditions were damp after overnight rain, adding complexity to tyre choice: “It’s tricky as it’s damp because of the overnight rain.

“But it went well. We chose rain tyres, which wasn’t the ideal choice, because we expected it to be wetter. But we’ll play it safe, and make sure we finish the event, as we aren’t a match for the Porsche,” Jos added, referencing Cedric Cherain’s Porsche 992 GT+.

At the very front, Thierry Neuville led the way in the Rally1 Hyundai N20, underlining the depth of competition on Belgian roads.

Ahead of the final four stages, Verstappen was clear that a conservative strategy was the priority. “The stages are better than this morning, but now we focus on getting to the finish. Being second or third in our class isn’t really that important. We’ll take it easy,” he said.

Three consecutive third places and a P5 on the final stage sealed third overall in class, and with it the Belgian Rally Championship title. The measured approach reflected the mindset of a driver who has swapped the relentless speed of F1 for the long game of rallying — with impressive results.

With one round still to run, Verstappen and Jamoul can already celebrate a successful season, having demonstrated consistency and composure that has defined their 2025 campaign.