Two years ago, Jos Verstappen experienced a significant crash as a rally driver, along with his regular navigator Renaud Jamoul. The latter was knocked unconscious and has no memory of the incident. Jamoul argues that this particular crash has not affected their trust in each other in any way. “I wouldn’t get in the car with just anyone, but I would with Jos. No problem. We trust each other completely.”
“It wasn’t my first crash either,” Jamoul casually recounts the incident. “But a week later, we were back in the car together. This is what I love, driving on the edge. Yes, as a navigator you have to be mentally strong, but so does the driver. It’s not that I don’t have control, simply because the other person is holding the steering wheel. I do have control. Because I’m the one telling Jos what to do.”
‘More time with me than at home’
From day one, Jamoul has been satisfied with his collaboration with Verstappen, he says. This is also due to their personal connection. “Jos wants to be the fastest, and so do I. We get along well and understand each other. That’s necessary, this isn’t just a job. You work very closely together. Over the past few months, Jos has spent more time with me than with his wife,” says Jamoul. Then, laughing towards Verstappen, “Lucky for your wife, Jos.”
Jamoul notes that Verstappen has greatly improved as a rally driver in a short period of time. “Jos had the speed from the beginning, but he lacked the necessary rally experience. Especially in making notes, following them, and maintaining concentration throughout the day. A rally is not an F1 race where you go flat-out for an hour and a half, here there are short tests with many breaks in between.”
