Alonso predicts Verstappen will thrive in sports car racing post-F1

Fernando Alonso believes Max Verstappen will enjoy a successful career in sports car racing after he eventually leaves F1.

Verstappen recently participated in a test at the Nordschleife circuit driving a Ferrari GT3 car, an activity he undertook under the pseudonym 'Franz Hermann'. This follows Verstappen's long-standing public interest in endurance racing, specifically mentioning his desire to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours race in the future.

Alonso, reflecting on his own experiences outside of F1, shared his perspective when asked about Verstappen's potential move.

"I did, in a way, my life out of F1 when I was tired of being here and being just a secondary actor," Alonso commented. "I was not really a protagonist in 2016, 2017, and 2018. I wanted to try something different outside F1, and I had great experiences in other categories."

Alonso: "I will watch" Verstappen's next chapter

Alonso's time away from F1 saw him become a two-time Le Mans winner and a WEC champion with Toyota. He also attempted the Indianapolis 500 again in 2019, though he didn't qualify.

While Alonso continues to race in F1 in his mid-40s, Verstappen has often stated he expects his F1 career to conclude much earlier.

Alonso supports Verstappen exploring other racing series, suggesting it offers the pure joy of driving without the immense pressure of F1.

"You get the fun of driving without the rest of everything that Formula 1 has, and I'm sure he had a great time there," Alonso said.

He added, "For me, it's not the priority at the moment, but I cannot say what I will do in the future. The endurance racing, 24-hour races, are always fun. You share the car with other drivers, there is a lot of team spirit on it... and yes, it’s great fun."

Alonso concluded by expressing his expectation that Verstappen will indeed pursue other forms of motorsport.

"I hope he enjoys it and does something maybe after Formula 1 because he's also a racer and he prefers to be driving than doing anything else... I’m sure he will do some other series and we will watch."