Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Ford would rather see Verstappen in a Mustang GT3 at the Nürburgring 24 Hours
Ford has made it clear that it would prefer to see Max Verstappen racing one of its own cars rather than a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. While the four-time Formula 1 world champion is set to make his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut this weekend in Mercedes machinery, the American manufacturer hopes their partnership could eventually extend beyond Formula 1.
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Max Verstappen will take on one of the toughest endurance races in the world this weekend when he makes his first appearance in the 24 Hours Nürburgring. The legendary race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife begins on Saturday at 15:00 local time and will see Verstappen drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entered by Winward Racing.
Although Verstappen has chosen Mercedes equipment for his 24-hour debut, Ford Motor Company would have preferred to see its Formula 1 partner in one of its own race cars.
Ford returned to Formula 1 in 2026 as the technical partner of Red Bull Racing and is working closely with the team on its new power unit programme. At the same time, the manufacturer is preparing to enter the Hypercar category of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027.
Speaking during the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook admitted the company would rather see Verstappen racing a Ford Mustang GT3.
According to Sportscar365, Ford made significant efforts to place Verstappen in a Mustang GT3, both for this weekend's Nürburgring race and potentially for future programmes with Verstappen.com Racing in GT competition.
Rushbrook stressed that Ford fully supports Verstappen's growing interest in endurance racing and believes his broad racing activities only make him a stronger competitor.
"We love what he does for us in Formula 1. We love who he is as a person. We love that he's a racer, whether it's sim racing or that, it only makes him better," Rushbrook explained, as quoted by RacingNews365.
While Verstappen's current plans are focused on Mercedes machinery, Ford remains hopeful that the Dutchman will one day represent the brand in sportscar racing as well.
"That's the right program for him right now. But obviously we'd love to see him in a Ford in the sports car world," Rushbrook added.
Discussions between Ford and Verstappen about possible future endurance projects have reportedly been ongoing for several years. With Ford set to launch its Hypercar programme in 2027 and Verstappen openly expressing his ambition to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a future collaboration remains a realistic possibility.
