Max Verstappen has suggested that a lack of proper preparation time remains a major hurdle preventing any potential reunion with his former Formula 1 team-mate Daniel Ricciardo at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours. Ricciardo previously declared that his days as a full-time racing driver were behind him in September last year upon taking on the role of a Global Ford Racing Ambassador.
The eight-time grand prix winner left McLaren a year early at the end of 2022, rejoined Red Bull as a third driver, and returned to the grid in mid-2023 replacing Nyck de Vries at the sister Racing Bulls squad. However, rather than using that stint as a springboard back to Red Bull Racing, Ricciardo struggled and was dropped before the 2024 season had even concluded.
Although he has openly expressed regret over leaving Red Bull at the end of 2018 to join Renault, Ricciardo has teased a potential racing comeback in the form of a dream tie-up with Verstappen at Le Mans. Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, he shared that finishing things on his own terms would provide a nice sense of closure, noting that a one-off endurance classic appeals to him far more than committing to a full championship.
A natural pathway for their pairing exists through Red Bull's engine partner Ford, with whom Ricciardo maintains a close ambassadorial relationship as they prepare a new hypercar project. The American manufacturer has long admired both drivers and would welcome the prospect of fielding them together in top-tier endurance competition.
Nevertheless, Verstappen emphasized that his demanding schedule outside of Formula 1 leaves him with virtually no free time to dedicate to a proper Le Mans campaign. The Dutchman insisted that any participation in the iconic endurance race must be approached with thorough preparation, which currently makes a joint entry with his former colleague unfeasible.
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