Max Verstappen has confirmed that the Le Mans 24 Hours is not part of his plans for the 2027 season, despite the Formula 1 calendar leaving several free weekends that coincide with major endurance events. The Red Bull Racing driver is instead focusing on the Nurburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours.
"Nurburgring and Spa, probably," Verstappen said in Baku when asked about his endurance intentions for next year. "Le Mans, that's not on my list for now. I said already, after the race at the Nordschleife, that I wanted to go back. If it allows me to prepare well, I know there is no clash, but it still needs to work out in my schedule, then I'll do it. And Spa is an exciting option."
This decision comes after Verstappen made his debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours this year with Mercedes-AMG, although the outing ended in disappointment as the car failed to reach the finish. That experience does not seem to have dampened his interest in returning, especially with the support of Verstappen Racing, which now has close links with Mercedes-AMG.
The Nurburgring 24 Hours is scheduled for May 27-30, while the Spa 24 Hours takes place on June 24-27. Neither event clashes with a grand prix, opening the door for Verstappen to compete. The Spa 24 Hours, part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge, is an attractive option due to its challenging track and the unique atmosphere of endurance racing.
In addition to those two events, the Bathurst 12 Hour could also emerge as another option. The race, held from February 12-14, is more than a week before F1 pre-season testing begins, and organisers have already expressed interest in attracting Verstappen to Mount Panorama. However, Verstappen has not commented specifically on Bathurst.
Meanwhile, the Le Mans 24 Hours will run from June 9-13, between the Monaco and Portuguese grands prix. Although the race itself does not conflict with F1, the pre-event test, which is mandatory for rookies, is scheduled on the same weekend as Monaco, creating an additional complication for any first-time appearance. This may be one reason Verstappen has ruled out Le Mans for 2027.
Nevertheless, this decision does not diminish Verstappen's longer-term interest in Le Mans. He recently revealed that he has discussed a future attempt alongside two-time winner Fernando Alonso. So the door to Le Mans remains open, but not for 2027.
Baca Juga
Max Verstappen memastikan tidak akan mengikuti Le Mans 2027 dan lebih memilih Nurburgring serta Spa. Simak alasan dan rencananya di sini.
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