Three-time and current reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has been contacted by FIA World Endurance Championship teams about racing in the Hypercar category at Le Mans, he has revealed.
“Of course, you get contacted by certain people, but it has to come at the right time and in the right way,” he told reporters when asked by Autosport if he’d been in contact with Hypercar teams.
“I don’t want to rush into a decision either,” he continued.
“With those new cars, I think it will take at least another one or two years before it’s all better understood because at the end of the day, it is still a Balance of Performance story and that makes it difficult.”
The Dutchman has, in the past, said that while he’d like to race at Le Mans in the future, it would come after he’d finished racing in F1.
However, now, he appeared to be slightly more open to contesting Le Mans while still racing in F1.
“That depends fully on the preparation, whether it can be done in a good way or not,” said the 26-year-old.
“That’s a bit the same as what I usually do on the simulator. I obviously wouldn’t have driven that sim race during the Imola weekend if I couldn’t prepare properly for it, but this time I could and therefore it was possible.
“Of course, you can’t run Le Mans and Formula 1 in one weekend, but if it can be combined in a good way, then I think it can be done during the F1 season.”
The last driver to race at Le Mans while racing that season in F1 was Nico Hulkenberg. He raced for Porsche at Le Mans in 2015 in the LMP1 category, winning the race overall in a Porsche 919 alongside Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber.
Verstappen also wants the Balance of Performance to be tweaked before he races in the French endurance classic.
“It’s too early for me to enter because of the new regulations as well, I think they need to sort out the BOP a little bit better between the cars.
“It’s a bit hit-and-miss here and there, I find. Plus, for me, also the driver weight, I feel like there needs to be a limit on that, because I might rock up at 80 kilos with kit, but there is also a driver that can be 55 or 60,” he said.
The minimum driver weight in F1 is 80kg, so Verstappen cannot be below this if he wants to race in both F1 and at Le Mans in the same season.
“When you go to Le Mans, you have no chance – that already is a couple of tenths a lap. It’s pretty incredible, the difference,” he added, discussing how weight can alter a car’s pace.
“So they need to sort that out. There needs to be an average or minimum weight that you need to comply to. But for sure in the future, I would like to race. Yeah, it’s an incredible event.”
However, to do both in the same season, Verstappen would require there not to be a clash between Le Mans and F1. Next season in 2025, the Canadian Grand Prix falls on the same weekend as Le Mans.
Discussion about this post