Verstappen Eyes Le Mans with Ford's Hypercar Program

Max Verstappen has his sights set on a future Le Mans appearance, with Ford Performance confirming discussions have taken place about a potential drive in its 2027 Hypercar program. The four-time F1 world champion's growing interest in endurance racing aligns with Ford's return to top-level competition in the World Endurance Championship, but a 2027 seat is ruled out due to scheduling conflicts.

Why it matters:

A Verstappen Le Mans bid would inject significant star power into the WEC and further blur the lines between F1 and endurance racing. For Ford, landing the Dutchman would be a marquee achievement as it rebuilds its Hypercar program. The move also signals Verstappen's long-term thinking beyond Formula 1, where his contract with Red Bull runs through 2028 but uncertainty over the sport's direction persists.

The details:

• Ford Performance boss Mark Rushbrook told The Athletic: “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, for the sport.”
• Rushbrook confirmed discussions with Verstappen have been ongoing for over three years, but a 2027 debut is off the table: “That would be taking on too much.”
• The key obstacle is calendar clashes between F1 and WEC, though Fernando Alonso (2018) and Nico Hulkenberg (2015) have successfully balanced both.
• Verstappen is already building his endurance resume: he makes his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut this weekend, has expanded GT racing activities with his own team, and impressed in a recent Super GT test at Fuji Speedway.
• Rushbrook left the door open for a drive during Verstappen's F1 career or after: “Depending on the schedules, it could be during [his F1 career] or both.”

What's next:

Verstappen's immediate focus is this weekend's Nürburgring 24 Hours, a key stepping stone toward Le Mans. With Ford's Hypercar program not competitive until at least 2028, a realistic timeline would see the four-time champion join after his Red Bull contract expires. For now, both sides are waiting for the right alignment of schedules and performance to make it happen.