Verstappen is already 'daydreaming' about Le Mans.

Verstappen is already 'daydreaming' about Le Mans.

      "If you win, you aim to win in the top category."

      Max Verstappen acknowledges his aspiration to bring his racing talent into the realm of sports cars. Over the weekend, while the four-time world champion and the Formula 1 crowd raced in Canada, the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans was taking place across the Atlantic. The Ferrari-associated team led by former F1 driver Robert Kubica came out on top, and Verstappen confessed he watched as much of the race as possible on TV.

      The four-time world champion recently set a record-breaking time in a GT3 test at the infamous Nordschleife, and Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko revealed that Verstappen plans to make his racing debut in this category sooner rather than later. "To make Max smile, all you need to do is mention GT," he stated. "There are gaps in the calendar in the fall, and I suspect Max has already examined those opportunities."

      On Sunday, Verstappen shared that he is considering not just GT races but also the top Hypercar category. "You can only drive GT3 at the Nordschleife," the Dutch driver told Viaplay. "If you participate in Le Mans, your goal is usually to race in the Hypercar class. If you want to win, you strive for the highest level. At the Nordschleife, that’s the GT3, which is different from Le Mans, given that the circuits are completely unique. It’s all very special," Verstappen added.

      He has established his own Verstappen.com Racing-branded GT3 team, with Thierry Vermeulen—the son of his manager, Raymond—behind the wheel. "I am gradually working towards participation," said the 27-year-old, who recently applied for sports car classification with the FIA and received the elite Platinum status. "Currently, I prefer to race myself," Verstappen admitted. "As I age and become slower, I’ll watch from the pit lane. Then, as a team principal, I can genuinely critique everyone in the car," he laughed.

      For now, he is contemplating who will be his teammates for Le Mans. "I have many friends who are already racing," Verstappen noted. "We discuss it more frequently. I recognize that I am one of the heavier drivers, so I’ll need at least two lighter drivers alongside me." Fernando Alonso has been suggested as a potential option, with Verstappen remarking, "Nyck (de Vries) is quite light too. Nyck is always fast, whether it’s Le Mans or elsewhere. That’s great to have as a teammate. There are numerous options, but I can only put three in the car, making it challenging."

      "It's tough to decide now, but it's okay to dream," he smiled. "Once the plans become clearer, it will be easier to sort things out."

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Verstappen is already 'daydreaming' about Le Mans.

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