Ford Openly Courting Verstappen for Le Mans Hypercar Dream

Ford Performance chief Mark Rushbrook has confirmed that the American manufacturer is holding regular discussions with Max Verstappen about a potential Hypercar drive in the World Endurance Championship, including an outright Le Mans assault. The four-time F1 champion's enthusiasm for endurance racing has grown visibly, with plans to contest the Nürburgring 24 Hours in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 adding fuel to the speculation. However, Verstappen's current Red Bull F1 contract through 2028 and calendar conflicts mean any move remains a future dream rather than an immediate plan.

Why it matters:

Ford's return to top-tier endurance racing with an LMDh prototype from 2027 is already a major storyline. Landing Verstappen would elevate the program to unprecedented levels of hype and competitiveness, potentially creating the most anticipated Le Mans entry in decades. The existing relationship through Ford's F1 partnership with Red Bull Powertrains makes the dream more plausible.

The details:

• Rushbrook: "We love Max... we have regular discussions with him about what are the opportunities to do more in sportscar, including Hypercar."
• Verstappen's Nürburgring 24h entry with Mercedes-AMG shows his commitment to endurance racing beyond F1.
• Ford's Hypercar program is still taking shape, but the manufacturer sees Verstappen as a natural fit given their F1 alliance and his racing DNA.
• The Dutchman's F1 schedule historically clashes with Le Mans (June), though the 2027 calendar could potentially align differently.

What's next:

For now, Ford is keeping expectations measured. "There is nothing planned for the near future," Rushbrook admitted. But the door remains firmly open for when Verstappen's F1 commitments allow. If a window appears, Ford would be ready to welcome the four-time champion into its Le Mans dream. The real question is whether Red Bull will allow its star driver to double up, or if Verstappen will eventually shift his focus to endurance racing post-F1.