Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook revealed that the American brand is having “regular discussions” with Max Verstappen about a possible future in endurance racing.
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Ford will join the premier category of the FIA World Endurance Championship starting in 2027, which also means an official return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Le Mans has long been one of Verstappen’s major personal goals.
Sargeant testifies
Thanks to the partnership between Red Bull and Ford in Formula 1, opportunities could arise to allow the four-time world champion to drive the future Ford Hypercar, but only if the schedule permits.
Former F1 driver Logan Sargeant is currently racing with Ford in the WEC, although still in the LMGT3 category this season. Starting next year, he will take the wheel of the future Ford Hypercar, with on-track testing scheduled to begin later this year.
And Sargeant would be delighted to have Verstappen as a teammate: “Well, if he drives, I hope he’ll be in my car!” joked Sargeant. “For me, Max is the best driver of all time. So sharing a car with him would be a huge privilege and a massive advantage.”
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“The fastest driver in the world”
Asked what makes Verstappen so valuable in endurance racing, Sargeant did not hesitate: “He is simply the fastest driver in the world. He will probably crush everyone. And I’d rather he do it in my car than in someone else’s.”
According to the American, Verstappen’s contribution goes far beyond pure speed: “It goes way beyond just driving style. Watching what he does with the tools at his disposal, lap after lap, how he adjusts the settings…”
Sargeant also believes that the experience Verstappen has gained in Formula 1 would be a huge asset in endurance racing: “Obviously, he has enormous experience thanks to F1. For him, it would be almost ‘plug and play.’ There is so much to learn from a driver like him.”
Finally, Sargeant highlighted what he believes truly sets Verstappen apart from other champions: “You don’t win four world championships without having the speed he has. You can see it even when he doesn’t have the best car: he always finds a way to make it work. And that’s not something everyone can do.”
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