(Motorsport-Total.com) – Max Verstappen’s interest in other motorsport categories beyond Formula 1 could prove to be a goldmine for engine partner Ford. As Ford motorsport chief Mark Rushbrook confirms in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com Netherlands, a sister publication of Motorsport-Total.com in the Motorsport Network, the topic is already part of joint discussions.
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The basis for this is the partnership in Formula 1, where Ford has been co-developing the power units for the Red Bull and Racing Bulls teams since 2026. This is how Verstappen entered the Ford universe, even though his team’s customer racing entries at the Nürburgring Nordschleife and the GT World Challenge (GTWC) Europe are done with Mercedes-AMG.
Verstappen’s passion for endurance racing has always been a big topic. Rushbrook is enthusiastic about the Dutchman’s attitude: “Yes, of course [we have talked],” he admits openly.
“We love Max. We love what he delivers in the Formula 1 car on the track. We love him off the track. He is a great person, just as he is a great driver.”
Especially the versatility of the world champion impresses the Ford chief: “We love his passion for racing GT3, just as he does, and what he achieves in driver development through sim racing and their deployment on the track. Therefore, of course, we have regular talks with him about what opportunities there are to do more in the sports car sector, including Hypercar,” he explains further.
According to Rushbrook, the driver himself also signals clear interest: “He is a racer. He wants to race,” says Rushbrook.
Plans are rather long-term
Despite the mutual sympathy, fans will probably have to be patient. Verstappen is contractually bound to Red Bull until the end of 2028, which massively restricts his schedule. “We are not announcing anything,” Rushbrook says with a smile, emphasizing that currently “nothing” is planned for the near future.
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The biggest obstacle remains the calendar. “He wants to race at Le Mans and fight for the overall win, but in most years the schedule does not allow it, right? As long as he is a committed Formula 1 driver, there is a conflict in most years,” Rushbrook analyzes the situation.
The goal remains clear nonetheless: “I think we are simply talking about what the opportunity is, and if and when it makes sense and everyone wants to do it, then great.” What must not be forgotten: The 24 Hours of Le Mans had a test day added last Sunday. Verstappen would therefore need two Formula 1 weekends off for professional preparation.
For the Hypercar program, whose test drives should begin this year, Verstappen would be a huge gain according to Rushbrook. Drivers of his quality are rare, especially regarding the way they work.
Rushbrook recalls the Formula 1 test drives in Barcelona: “Hearing his feedback over the radio while he is on the track testing his brand-new car, and then he comes back after a stint of 30, 40, or 50 laps… The amount of detail he can give the engineers as feedback is so much more valuable than all the data available to the engineers,” he describes his impressions.
In conclusion, he underlines the importance of a possible collaboration: “It complements each other, it has to fit together. Simply the mental capacity and the range he has for developing a car, for racing, and for tuning a car – having a driver like him at any point in his program, even if it is just for one race, is quite significant.”
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