When Ott Tänak dropped his bombshell on that Sunday night in Japan, his thinking was clear: he needed a break.
He talked of a rollercoaster, a wild one, which had been full of breathtaking highs and humbling lows. It was a ride that had tested every part of him. That is the 2019 World Rally Champion: he gives everything, he demands everything. To him, nothing is impossible and impossible is nothing.
As we know, Tänak is watching from afar this year. And he’s watching some drivers more than others – seeing his pal Takamoto Katsuta succeed on Safari was an undoubted highlight of his 2026 to date.
The Estonian is, however, quick to point out that he hasn’t been universally impressed with what he’s seen on the stages.
Tänak himself was never less than 100% focused and determined
“There are some drivers,” he said, “with their interviews who are just saying how much they enjoy driving Rally1 cars. It seems like it’s too many drivers there just enjoying, I mean not too many who are actually fighting for it. This is a bit sad to see.
“I think for that, there is only a very short future. It doesn’t take you far. So they should really work to show some results and really show the improvements – only like this you can actually stay in the WRC. I really hope that they will put some good action in to really improve.”
Driving rally cars was – and is – a huge part of Tänak’s life. But he was never happy unless he’d exhausted every possibility and wrung everything from the car beneath him. His decision to step back from the series for this season is, perhaps, the best indication yet of his desire to only be in it to win it.
Regardless of whether he’s in or out of the car, his frank, forthright and unswerving view of the world and those in it will continue to make headlines.
