Ford offers Max Verstappen to compete in Le Mans.

      The racing division of Ford Corporation has offered Max Verstappen to compete in the "24 Hours of Le Mans" as part of the factory team, which will debut in the WEC in 2027. However, this is about a more distant future, Mark Rushbrook, head of Ford Racing, reported, although he acknowledged that this would only be possible with a fortunate combination of many circumstances.

      The four-time world champion has long expressed his desire to start the classic marathon, and for now, he is preparing for the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring, which he intends to drive in his team's Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, Verstappen Racing.

      In GT, Max competes in his free time from his main job, i.e., during breaks between Formula 1 races, where he pilots the RB22 car with a power unit produced by Red Bull Ford Powertrains.

      And since the American company has serious intentions related to the World Endurance Championship, it is quite logical that they want to negotiate with such a high-class professional as Verstappen.

      "We would like that," Rushbrook said while speaking to the press this weekend in Spa, where the 6-hour WEC race is taking place today. "But for that to happen, a lot has to align. Of course, it would be incredibly great for us and for all of motorsport."

      When asked if negotiations had already taken place with Max, he replied: "It wasn't about 2027. It could happen in the future, but it all depends on various plans and everything that is going on. In fact, we mainly discussed this topic about three years ago, and it all depends on the right circumstances."

      As Sportscar365 reports, Rushbrook hinted that Ford would like Max to also compete in GT races in a Ford Mustang GT3 Evo sports car, and for the drivers of his team participating in the European GT World Challenge series to also switch to such cars:

      "We prefer that Ford drivers remain loyal to Ford technology. But we understand Max's choice; we really like his passion for racing. We like what he does in Formula 1, and we really love him as a person. Currently, we are fine with him competing in different categories, including virtual racing, as it only makes him better. But, of course, we would be happy to see him in sports car races driving a Ford."

      For now, the American company has confirmed that Logan Sargeant, Seb Priaulx, and Mike Rockenfeller will compete for Ford Racing in the WEC, and the name of the fourth driver will be announced in June during the Le Mans weekend.