Frijns expects Verstappen to move to WEC’s Hypercar class after Nurburgring 24 Hours

BMW factory driver Robin Frijns says Max Verstappen is likely to transition from Formula 1 to the World Endurance Championship, with the Hypercar class his probable target after the Dutch champion’s Nurburgring 24 Hours debut. Frijns, fresh from a dominant NLS win in the BMW M4 GT3 Evo, sees the Red Bull star’s growing GT3 involvement as a stepping stone toward a full‑time WEC seat. If Verstappen makes the jump, it could bring unprecedented attention to endurance racing.

Why it matters:

• Verstappen’s global brand could lift WEC viewership and attract new sponsors.
• A top‑tier Hypercar entry by a four‑time F1 champion would validate the class as the pinnacle of sport‑scar racing.
• BMW’s own LMDh program stands to gain publicity and potential technical partnerships.

The details:

• Frijns, Marco Wittmann and Phillip Eng won the third round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken‑Serie in the Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 Evo, beating the Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R by 21 seconds.
• Verstappen will take part in qualifying races for the May 14‑17 Nurburgring 24 Hours, piloting a Mercedes‑AMG GT3 for the Winward team alongside Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Lucas Auer.
• In an interview Frijns said, “In his position I would do the same… GT3 has always attracted him, and if he can do the Nurburgring 24 Hours he’ll do it.”
• Frijns rates the Winward Mercedes package as strong and believes Verstappen could be a “serious threat” for overall victory in the SP9 class.
• Frijns himself races the BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh in the WEC with former DTM champion René Rast, underscoring his belief that top‑level endurance cars are the logical next step for Verstappen.

What's next:

Frijns predicts Verstappen will aim for the Hypercar division rather than stay in GT3, arguing that “you want to race in the top class.” He notes that the fundamentals of a Hypercar—high downforce, complex hybrid systems—are comparable to F1, so adaptation should be smooth. If Verstappen commits, the WEC could see a surge in ticket sales, media coverage and sponsor interest, especially at marquee events like Le Mans, Spa and Imola. Frijns hopes the championship “starts to grow a bit more again” and sees Verstappen’s involvement as a catalyst for that growth.