Verstappen winks at Le Mans: “Already contacted, but it must be done in the right way”

The three-time Formula 1 world champion has expressed his desire to participate in the most prestigious endurance race on several occasions in the past and took part in the virtual version as part of the Team Redline lineup.

But ahead of this year’s race at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Verstappen revealed he has already received several approaches from teams wanting to sign him for a future victory.

“Of course you get contacted by some people, but it has to come at the right time and in the right way,” he said when asked by Motorsport.com if there had been any conversations about the possibility.

“I don’t want to make a hasty decision either. With these new cars, I think it will take at least another one or two years before everything is better understood, because at the end of the day it’s still a Balance of Performance story and that makes everything difficult”.

The last driver to try to compete in both F1 and Le Mans in the same season was Nico Hulkenberg, who won the great 2015 French classic with Porsche.

Verstappen had previously suggested that a possible participation in Le Mans would come after he finished his F1 career, although, softening his stance slightly, the Red Bull driver added: “It depends completely on the preparation, whether it can be done in a good way or not.”

“It’s a bit like what I usually do in the simulator. Obviously I wouldn’t have driven that virtual race during the Imola weekend if I hadn’t been able to prepare adequately, but this time I could do it and so it was possible.”

“Of course you can’t race Le Mans and Formula 1 in one weekend, but if you can combine them in an optimal way, then I think it can be done during the F1 season.”

After the initial application in 2021, the hypercar regulation is still in its infancy and the subsequent convergence with the LMDh is bearing fruit with a world-class entry list.

But Verstappen is happy to wait until some flaws in the regulations are ironed out before jumping into a potential seat.

“It’s too early to sign up, also because of the new regulations: I think they need to better arrange the BOP between the cars. I find that there is a bit of confusion here and there. Furthermore, for me, the weight of the driver must also have a limit, because I can reach 80 kilos, but there is also a rider who can reach 55 or 60 kilos”.

“When you go to Le Mans, you have no chance: it’s already a couple of tenths a lap. It’s an incredible difference.”

“So they have to solve this problem. There has to be a middleweight or minimum weight to meet. But definitely in the future I would like to race. Yes, it’s an incredible event.”

The possibility of Verstappen appearing next year has already been ruled out by a calendar coincidence, with the 2025 race falling on the same weekend as the Canadian Grand Prix.