Sébastien Ogier says he would gladly welcome Max Verstappen to test a World Rally Championship car, should the four-time Formula 1 world champion wish to add rallying to his extracurricular motorsport activities.
Nine-time world rally champion Ogier attended the Nurburgring 24 Hours, where he witnessed Verstappen challenge for the victory alongside his Winward-Mercedes team-mates Dani Juncadealla, Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon.
Following the race, Ogier congratulated Verstappen on his speed in a social media post, while also suggesting that the Red Bull F1 driver should try rallying as his next challenge and follow his father Jos Verstappen, who competes in the Belgian Rally Championship. Verstappen then offered a cheeky reply to Ogier, saying “you as teacher?”.
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Verstappen is a fan of rallying and has a lot of respect for the discipline. Last year he enjoyed driving Ogier’s 2018 WRC title winning M-Sport Ford Fiesta on a circuit as part of a promotional video for Ford.
During an interview in February on the Up To Speed podcast, Verstappen dismissed the idea of going competitive rallying in the future.
”I think it's really cool, but I just think about if I make a mistake and I hit that tree, I mean the tree is not moving. That, for me, is my limit. That, for me, is something that I don't want to do. It's just too high of a risk,” he said.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Rally Japan, Ogier was asked by Motorsport about his social media exchange with Verstappen, with the Frenchman admitting he would welcome the four-time F1 world champion to a test should he ever wish to experience a WRC car in full flight.
“It was kind of a joke you make on social media, but obviously he likes new experiences and things like this,” said Ogier.
“He has driven my old Fiesta already once last year but it wasn’t in the best place, it was on a circuit. I told him that if you really want to [drive it] you need to try it in a proper place because a circuit is not ideal for the car. But I’m sure a guy like him could be attracted at one point [to rallying], so why not?
“My answer was honest, I said if he wants to join for a test I would be happy to welcome him.”
After attending the Nurburgring 24 Hours, Ogier’s full focus is on winning this week’s Rally Japan after losing a likely victory following a penultimate-stage puncture while leading Rally Portugal earlier this month.
Ogier claimed victory the last time the WRC headed to Japan in November last year and has started his 2026 bid by topping Thursday’s shakedown.
“I tend to have a strong character and when things do not go my way [referring to Rally Portugal] I push it even more to make it go my way," he added.
