Best F1 to Rally Transitions in History
Formula One fans are being treated to a masterclass in power unit innovation from Red Bull along with elite driving from Max Verstappen. While it’s undeniable that the performance is impressive and is building on over a decade’s worth of work from Christian Horner and the Red Bull team, it has made each Grand Prix just a bit underwhelming.
Though the Chinese Grand Prix certainly offered some drama, drivers are now competing for second place so long as Verstappen has a functional car. You may be asking, Is Verstappen a safe bet when it comes to the outright Grand Prix winner? With only five of 24 races completed, it might seem too soon to answer—but the odds are in. Analysts overwhelmingly favor Verstappen to sweep the driver’s championship.
In the face of complete dominance by Red Bull in F1, many auto fans are shifting their focus toward the WRC. Favorites aren’t quite as obvious, which means each race is a truly grueling contest. Additionally, it’s become an increasingly popular option for F1 drivers.
Recently, the fathers of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Verstappen have both celebrated rally wins. Carlos Sainz took home a win at the Rally Dakar race, while Jos Verstappen won at the Hannuit Rally. This has certainly got some fans wondering which current F1 drivers could make a similar transition. Let’s take a look back and count down some of the best pivots from F1 drivers.
Valtteri Bottas
The most recent move from F1 to rally comes from long-time Mercedes-turned-Stake driver Valtteri Bottas. Though he’s still logging time in Formula One, he’s also participated in a number of rally events—and is likely to focus more squarely on rally once he’s officially hung up his F1 hat.
His first win was back in 2019 at the Rallycircuit Cote D’Azur race. He’s also participated in the Arctic Rally on multiple occasions, having finished fifth overall in his first 2019 race. Since then, he’s partnered with fellow Finnish F1 star Mika Hakkinen in the 2023 Race of Champions. It’s unclear whether Bottas will continue to race in the event.
Kimi Raikkonen
When talking about successful Finnish drivers, Kimi Raikkonen should always be part of the conversation. When he left F1 in 2021, he did so as the most accomplished Finnish driver to ever take to the track and as one of the most beloved racers in the world. Raikkonen has the distinction of succeeding both in F1, rally and even NASCAR.
In 2009, he signed with Citroen’s Junior Team. Though he didn’t win any first-place finishes, Raikkonen did manage to finish first in one stage and, throughout his time in WRC, out-maneuvered more experienced drivers. The feat is even more impressive when noting that he was also competing in NASCAR races during this time, highlighting his flexibility and dynamism as a racer.
Jim Clark
If you don’t immediately remember Jim Clark, that’s okay. Born in 1936, he took up the helm with Lotus back in 1960, racing with the team until his untimely passing. Back then, he had more pole positions and Grand Prix races under his belt than any of his contemporaries.
But during this stretch, Clark was also putting work in to other races, similar to the other two drivers mentioned on this list. He transitioned from indy car racing to pre-rally prototypes, helping steer interest in racing and off-road tracks.
Clark took on the Indy 500 in 1965, which he won against the odds. He also competed in Le Mans (finishing third) and Bo’ness Hill Climb (finishing first). But he’s also remembered for his contributions to early British rally racing, then known as the British Sports Car Championship. In 1966, he battled for a podium finish in the RAC Rally of Great Britain.
