Sebastien Ogier pays tribute to WRC rival that ‘pushed him the hardest’

Sebastien Ogier says Ott Tanak pushed him “harder than anyone else” as the nine-time world rally champion paid tribute to his rival and friend, who will take a sabbatical in 2026.

Tanak shocked the rally world in November when the 2019 champion announced plans to take a break from full-time competition in the WRC next year, forsaking a 2026 seat at Hyundai in the process.

Tanak cited his wish to spend more time with his family as one of the key factors behind the move, but revealed that this “isn’t a complete goodbye” as he won’t be cutting ties with rallying completely. The 38-year-old admitted his future is “open” regarding rally outings next year.

Reflecting on 2025, Ogier posted an emotional tribute to close friend and rival, Tanak, on social media with whom he has shared countless hard-fought battles across their WRC careers.

Those battles continued in 2025, most notably in Portugal, Sardinia and Greece where the pair enjoyed head-to-head battles for wins. Ogier ultimately took wins in Portugal and Sardinia, while Tanak triumphed in Greece.

Ott Tanak will take a break from the WRC in 2026

Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images

"Before the end of 2025, I felt the need to share a few words about a piece of news I didn't comment on when it first came out, but one that truly touched me,” posted Ogier.

“As you all know, Ott Tanak won't be competing in the WRC next year, and I think we can all agree that this is a real loss for our sport.

“On a personal level, I will truly miss him. As a competitor, he was probably the one who pushed me the hardest, who forced me to dig deeper and go closer to my limits than anyone else throughout my career. But even more than that, I will miss him as a friend.

“Ott, you are a great family man, someone I truly respect. I hope you enjoy every moment with your loved ones and embrace this new chapter with the same strength and honesty you've always shown. Life has a way of surprising us, and who knows what paths may still cross again.

Maybe this is goodbye. Or maybe it's simply, see you later!”

Newly crowned nine-time world champion Ogier is once again set to contest a partial WRC campaign in 2026 for Toyota, beginning in Monte Carlo in January.