Max Verstappen eyes Le Mans with Nyck de Vries as potential teammate: racing shift confirmed

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, is planning a significant shift in his racing career by targeting the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.
Despite being deeply involved in the 2025 F1 championship battle, Verstappen has openly discussed his ambitions beyond single-seater racing.

"I am working on it step by step to participate (in Le Mans). At the moment I prefer to race myself, of course. It’s very difficult to decide now, but fantasising is allowed," Verstappen told Viaplay.

He has already gained experience in endurance-style racing by testing GT3 cars at the challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany, signaling his serious interest in the discipline.

In addition to his own plans, Verstappen has expressed a desire to team up with fellow Dutch driver Nyck de Vries, who had a brief stint in Formula 1 with AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls). This pairing could bring a strong Dutch presence to endurance racing.

Verstappen’s second-place finish at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix has not deterred him from looking ahead, showing his intent to diversify his motorsport portfolio.

This move highlights a growing trend among top F1 drivers exploring endurance racing as a new challenge and career path.

With Verstappen’s proven talent and de Vries’ experience, their potential collaboration at Le Mans could be a formidable force in endurance racing’s elite event.

Max Verstappen, defending F1 world champion, is exploring a future in endurance racing, aiming to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is considering Dutch driver Nyck de Vries, a former F1 racer, as a potential teammate, signaling a confirmed shift from Formula 1 to endurance racing.