Max Verstappen is intrigued by the idea of a Le Mans 24 Hours link-up with Fernando Alonso and has already discussed the possibility of a partnership with the Spaniard.
During his Formula 1 sabbatical, Alonso won the crown jewel event twice in 2018 and 2019 with the Toyota Gazoo Racing LMP1 outfit.
The Spaniard also added the 2018-19 World Endurance Championship title to his accolades outside of his two F1 titles.
Speaking last year, Alonso would not rule out a return to the event, telling Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “I know Max wants to do some endurance one day and I know he’d like to do the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“I’m certainly open to doing that together. I think we should give the idea a chance if we can drive for a competitive team.”
The idea of teaming up with Alonso is something that appeals to Verstappen and, according to the Dutchman, he has already discussed the possibility with the 42-year-old.
“Le Mans I definitely would like to do,” said Verstappen at the Honda Thanks Day earlier this week at Motegi.
“I’ve been there already, when my Dad used to race in Le Mans,” the three-time champion added; Jos Verstappen found class victory in the 2008 edition sharing the wheel of an all-Dutch piloted LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder Evo.
“The atmosphere is amazing, so many people. Driving through the night, sunrise, I think it’s really cool.
“I’ve been speaking to Fernando about it. He said he would only want to do it with me again. So, I was like ‘Wow, that would be really cool!’
“The only thing is that, for Le Mans, there is not like a minimum weight for the driver. I’m quite a heavy driver, so I’d need to find light team-mates to compensate.
“But Fernando is quite light, so it would be quite good. But we’d need to find another one, so I need to have a look.”
In 2022, Verstappen hinted that it would be another ‘two or three years’ until he would be ready to try his hand at endurance racing.
However, , a shot at Le Mans victory alongside his father Jos is also high-up on the priority list.
“I definitely want to do endurance at some point,” he added.
“Maybe still a few more years, two or three years before I want to do that,” he then explained. “He [Jos, 51] is getting too old and I want to do it with him!”
The 54-time grand prix winner was also quizzed by Honda fans over a potential switch to IndyCar, an idea he was swift to reject.
“I like to watch it. I have a lot of respect for what they do, but I don’t think I’d be participating,” he asserted.
“For sure I would like to try a MotoGP bike,” the Dutchman confided. “I enjoy SuperGT. I got to try one last year, which was very nice. The Super Formula cars, they’re very nice. It’s the fastest car below Formula 1, they look great.”
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