Sébastien Ogier, from the dream of 2025 to the multiple setbacks of 2026.
World champion winner in 2025, for the ninth time record, thanks to phenomenal consistency, Sébastien Ogier was unable to repeat this feat again in 2026. This was due to sometimes dreadful conditions and a few incidents, more or less unlucky, at key moments.
With the manufacturers’ championship secured for Toyota and the drivers’ title clinched for him since Paraguay, Sébastien Ogier will be contest the Rally of Sardinia with no other objective than to enjoy himself one more last time behind the wheel of a Rally1 car before the arrival of the new regulations, which he finds it so far from appealing. But how did the Frenchman end up competing in the WRC without any stakes, given that he secured his ninth world title champion last year , equaling Sébastien Loeb’s record? The reasons are numerous, and the question must be examined by checking at all his results and averages.
It wasn’t one particular moment that cost him the title champion, but a multitude of problems of various origins (sometimes pace, but more regularly, weather conditions, tires, or mechanical issues) also. Here are the main ones.
Can a 14th consecutive podium finish in an event as formidable as Monte Carlo to be considered a misstep? In absolute terms, no, but considering his performances on this terrain (9 winnings) and his potential roadmap too, this third place in the Principality put Sébastien Ogier in a vulnerable position right from the start of the Championship competition. For him, everything practically hinged on the first night, where snow and ice punished him given his road-sweeping position. He conceded 1 minute and 9 seconds to Oliver Solberg, the eventual winner, on the second special phase, before taking no risks on extremely difficult terrain with heavy snowfall, securing third place behind Elfyn Evans.
In Kenya, the elements got the better of his Yaris.
In the year 2025: but not contested; In 2026: retired after SS13 and (return to Super Rally).
In a rally made completely chaotic by rain on the already treacherous Kenyan tracks, and remember he was forced to retire on Saturday’s stage due to electrical problems caused by the mud buildup. A similar fate to that of Oliver Solberg, with whom he had been battling for the lead. He restarted on Sunday to get 8 points but missed an opportunity to gain ground on of the Evans, who also had to retire, with only four Rally1 cars finishing the event without retiring.
In Portugal, a costly puncture in the final
In the year 2025: win; In 2026: 6th.
After a tough start to the rally, Ogier surged into the lead in another event complicated by the weather conditions. Everything fell apart on Sunday in the penultimate phase. Leading by a 17 seconds over Thierry Neuville, who would go on to win, he also suffered a puncture and had to stop to change a tire. He lost in two minutes in the process (as well as the Super Sunday points) and ultimately he finished 6th position.
In Finland, a reunion ended in the trees
In 2025: winner; In 2026: definitive withdrawal.
In Paraguay, a last hope quickly vanished
In 2025: win; In 2026: retirement during SS3 and (return to Super Rally).
