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Max Verstappen’s next racing challenge could change motorsport forever

Max Verstappen’s potential move to WEC with Ford is exciting Logan Sargeant, who hopes to team up with the F1 champion in the Hypercar category.

Oliver Obel

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May 13, 2026

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The prospect of four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen venturing into endurance racing with Ford has ignited significant excitement, particularly for former F1 driver Logan Sargeant, who hopes to share a car with the Dutchman in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar category.

Ford Motor Company boss Mark Rushbrook confirmed that discussions with Verstappen are ongoing, highlighting the F1 star’s deep passion for racing beyond single-seaters. Ford is set to return to Formula 1 in 2026, partnering with Red Bull on their Red Bull Powertrains programme, and will also make a significant entry into the WEC Hypercar class from 2027, which includes competing at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Ford’s hypercar ambitions and Verstappen’s allure

Rushbrook expressed Ford’s admiration for Verstappen, both on and off the track, and confirmed “regular discussions” about potential opportunities in sportscar racing, including Hypercar. He acknowledged the challenge of Verstappen’s demanding F1 schedule, which often conflicts with WEC events like Le Mans.

“He’s a racer. He wants to race. We’re not announcing anything,” Rushbrook told Motorsport.com. “He wants to go race Le Mans and race for the overall win, but most years the [F1] schedule doesn’t allow it, right? While he’s a committed Formula 1 driver, most years now it’s a conflict.”

Rushbrook underlined the unique value Verstappen could bring to any programme, citing his exceptional ability to provide detailed feedback to engineers, which he considers “so much more valuable than all the data that the engineers have.” He added, “To have a driver like that in your programme, at some point, even if it’s only for one race, is pretty meaningful.”

Sargeant eyes a star teammate

The potential partnership has been met with enthusiasm by Logan Sargeant, who raced in F1 for Williams between 2023 and 2024. Sargeant currently competes in the second-tier LMGT3 class in WEC and is confirmed to move up to the Hypercar class with Ford from 2027.

Sargeant made his desires clear regarding a potential Verstappen collaboration. “Well, if he is driving, I hope he’s in my car! That’s for sure,” Sargeant told Motorsport.com. “In my opinion, Max is the best to ever do it. So if I could share a car with him, that would be a huge privilege and a huge advantage.”

He further elaborated on the benefits of having Verstappen as a teammate, stating, “Well, he’s the quickest driver in the world. He’s going to most likely kick everyone’s ass. I’d rather that be in my car than the other.” Sargeant also praised Verstappen’s F1 experience, noting his ability to develop a car and find performance even when the machinery isn’t optimal.

Verstappen’s versatility and speed outside of F1 have been recently demonstrated. He is set to compete in his first 24 Hours of Nurburgring later this month in a GT3 car. Furthermore, a challenge video posted by Red Bull showcased Verstappen driving a Super GT300 car, similar to a GT3 machine, at Fuji Speedway. There, he remarkably beat professional Japanese Super GT driver Atsushi Miyake’s lap time of 1:44.075 by over 1.7 seconds, setting a blistering 1:42.290.

While Verstappen’s F1 commitments remain his primary focus, the open dialogue with Ford and the eager anticipation from drivers like Sargeant suggest a tantalizing future for the Dutch champion in the world of endurance racing.

Sources: www.sportbible.com, www.motorsport.com