Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Ford confirms talks with Max Verstappen over future Le Mans 24 Hours entry
Max Verstappen could one day race for Ford at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, after the American manufacturer confirmed it has been in discussions with the four-time Formula 1 world champion about a possible future collaboration.
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Ford returned to Formula 1 in 2026 as the technical partner of Red Bull Racing, the team Verstappen currently drives for. The company is also preparing to enter the Hypercar category of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027, giving it a direct route to challenge for overall victory at Le Mans.
Verstappen has spoken openly for several years about his ambition to compete in endurance racing, and his interest continues to grow. Next weekend, he is set to make his debut in the 24 Hours Nürburgring, where he will race a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo with Verstappen Racing.
Speaking during the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Ford Performance boss Mark Rushbrook confirmed that discussions with Verstappen about Le Mans have already taken place.
“We would love to see that. A lot of things need to align for that to happen, but that would of course be incredible for us and for the sport,” Rushbrook told Sportscar365.
However, Rushbrook ruled out the possibility of Verstappen joining Ford for its first WEC season in 2027.
“That would be taking on too much,” he said.
Rushbrook revealed that talks between Ford and Verstappen began around the time the manufacturer announced its partnership with Red Bull in early 2023. He also suggested that Verstappen could potentially race at Le Mans while still competing in Formula 1.
“Depending on the schedules, it could be during his F1 career or after it. Discussions go back more than three years. It’s just a matter of finding the right opportunity and the right programme,” Rushbrook explained.
Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, although he has previously indicated that he may not wish to continue in Formula 1 indefinitely.
If he eventually competes at Le Mans, Verstappen would follow in the footsteps of other Formula 1 drivers who have won the race, including Nico Hülkenberg, who triumphed in 2015 with Porsche, and Fernando Alonso, who claimed back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019 with Toyota.
