F1 star Max Verstappen plans a future in endurance racing, targeting the 24 Hours of Le Mans with his own GT3 team.
Max Verstappen admits he fully intends to bring his driving skills to the world of endurance racing.
While the four-time Formula 1 World Champion was competing in Canada this past weekend, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans was taking place on the other side of the Atlantic.
Ferrari-affiliated AF Corse, focused on former F1 driver Robert Kubica, claimed victory, and Verstappen admitted to watching as much of the event as possible on television.
The four-time World Champion recently set a record during a GT3 test on the famed Nordschleife, and Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko recently acknowledged that Verstappen is eager to begin racing as soon as possible.
“If you want to make Max smile, talk about GT. There are gaps in the calendar in the autumn, and I assume Max has already looked into it closely.”
On Sunday, Verstappen acknowledged he is aiming not only at GT races but also at the premier Hypercar category.
“On the Nordschleife, you can only drive GT3s. If you enter Le Mans, you usually want to race in Hypercar.”
“If you want to win, you want to do it in the top category. On the Nordschleife, that’s in a GT3. So it’s different from Le Mans, but they are also completely different circuits.”
“It’s very special,” Verstappen added.
He already owns his own GT3 team, branded Verstappen.com Racing, with Thierry Vermeulen, the son of his manager Raymond, behind the wheel.
“The plans are in motion. I’m working step by step to take part,” revealed the 27-year-old driver, who recently submitted a request for FIA classification in sports cars and obtained Platinum status, the highest level.
“For now, I prefer to race solo, of course, in F1. Then, with others in Endurance. And later, when I’m a bit older and slower, I’ll watch everything from the pit lane.”
“Maybe as the team boss, so I can really criticize everyone in the car,” he said with a laugh.
For now, he admits to spending time thinking about potential teammates for Le Mans, should he enter with his own team, starting with GT3.
“I already have a lot of friends who race. We talk about it more and more often.”
“I know I’m one of the heavier drivers, so I need at least two lighter drivers alongside me.”
Fernando Alonso has been mentioned as a potential candidate, and Verstappen added, “Nyck (de Vries) is quite light, of course.”
“Nyck is always fast, whether at Le Mans or elsewhere. It’s nice to have him as a teammate. There are many possibilities and I can only put two others in the car, so it’s going to be tough.”
“It’s very hard to decide now, but it’s okay to dream. Once the plans are a bit clearer, it will be easier to sort everything out.”