Verstappen Snr has been in the paddock alongside his three-time world champion son throughout his record-breaking career, but he’s no stranger to the sport having raced in F1 to a much lower level of success in three different spells between 1994 and 2003.

And since leaving his own F1 career behind, Jos continues to race in different disciplines, most recently appearing in the World Rally Championship last year. The 51-year-old was preparing for a rally race in Spain later this month, but those hopes took a hit after he smashed his car into metal barriers.

Jos will be racing in the upcoming Spanish Rally Super Championship in Alicante and was getting accustomed to the route during a practice session. However, the Dutchman became more acquainted with the barriers than anything else on the track.

Verstappen was able to walk out of the car unscathed alongside co-driver Renaud Jamoul, who confirmed both were uninjured in the crash. But the Red Bull rally car was badly damaged after Jos had missed his breaking point and locked up the wheels before sliding into the barriers at the top of a right-hand turn.

Jos Verstappen’s damaged rally car

The car had lost most of it’s front bumper and the right hand side of the bonnet was completely caved in following the heavy impact. Luckily for Jos, the barriers did their job as the car avoided a potentially terrifying drop off the side of the road.

Jos, who raced in 106 Grand Prix and finished on the podium twice at Benetton as a team-mate of Michael Schumacher, will be hoping his team can get the car fully repaired in time for the first stage of the event on November, 2.

Verstappen had two podium finishes in his F1 career (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Verstappen’s involvement in the Spanish Rally Super Championship will likely mean he isn’t present to watch Max in action in Brazil and the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this coming weekend. Although, with Max so dominant this year, it’s unlikely Jos will miss anything he hasn’t seen already this season.