Max Verstappen is no one-trick pony. The four-time Formula 1 champion has demonstrated his ability to excel behind the wheels of other types of cars, most recently by teaming up to win a 4-hour race at the Nürburgring in a GT3 car, before being disqualified post-race for a technical infraction.
The Dutchman, who has been very critical of the way the latest Formula 1 cars drive and race, looks set to pursue more extracurricular activities and has now revealed the other series he would consider racing in full-time when he’s finished with F1 for good.
Autosport reports that Verstappen picked WEC (World Endurance Championship) and Australia’s Supercars Championship, while rejecting rally racing, NASCAR and IndyCar. Verstappen has said on several previous occasions that he doesn’t see IndyCar in his future, especially the Indy 500.
“I’ve no desire to chase the Triple Crown. At least, not Indy,” Verstappen said in 2022, according to ESPN. “I appreciate what they do. It’s insane, these drivers. … I have a lot of respect for what they achieve there, but for me, especially being in F1 for such a long time already, I don’t need to risk my life there and potentially injure myself, your legs, whatever. It’s just not worth it anymore, let’s say like that.”
Read also: HERE’S WHY KYLE BUSCH THINKS KYLE LARSON WOULD DO BETTER IN F1 THAN MAX VERSTAPPEN WOULD IN NASCAR
Verstappen does have a direct connection to NASCAR, through Red Bull’s powertrain relationship with Ford, but it doesn’t sound like that’s in the cards, despite the influx of sports car drivers in the series attracted by the seventh generation car and extra road course opportunities.
Ford does have another racing effort in the works, as it is launching a WEC Hypercar program in 2027 that will kick off at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. While its unlikely his F1 schedule will allow him to enter that race, the 28-year-old has plenty of racing ahead of him so a start at Circuit de La Sarthe is only a matter of time. Ford will have a Formula 1 driver on the team, however, with American ex-Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant already confirmed for the inaugural team.
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2 Comments
Oh no, how will we survive? Say it ain’t so. What will the Indy 500 do without this wimp? Oh yeah, sell out and continue being the biggest sporting event on earth.
Most Americans don’t know who this guy is, and the rest don’t care. Sorry to burst your bubble. Looks like another dopey dude from F1.