Ford would like to see Verstappen swap his Mercedes for a Mustang in GT

The passion of Max Verstappen for the racesEndurance It's no longer a secret. Very active in simulation, the Dutchman is also gaining experience in the real world, notably with several notable appearances in GT racing in recent months. This weekend, the four-time world champion of Formula 1 will be driving a Mercedes Benz-AMG GT3 at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, a choice that doesn't leave Ford indifferent, especially since the Blue Oval brand is now associated with Red Bull in Formula 1. Especially since the American brand fields examples of its Mustang in the Eifel.

Present on the sidelines of the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (May 9), the second round of the 2026 World Endurance Championship season, Mark Rushbrook acknowledged that the manufacturer would naturally prefer to see Verstappen driving one of its Ford Mustangs rather than a Mercedes. We prefer that our Ford drivers stay at Ford “,” the head of Ford Performance told the media present in Belgium, including AUTOhebdo. “NWe understand, however, why he made this choice. We admire his passion. »

While the Michigan-based company clearly doesn't hold a grudge against the world champion for his stints with Mercedes, it is clearly keen to attract him to its own racing programs. Rushbrook has been full of praise for the Dutchman, commending a mindset that perfectly aligns with Ford's sporting DNA. We love what he does for us in Formula 1. We love his personality. We love his competitive spirit, whether it's in simulation or otherwise, it only makes him better than he already is. »

For now, Ford acknowledges that Verstappen's current involvement in his various personal projects probably provides the ideal framework for nurturing his passion for endurance racing without disrupting his Formula 1 commitment, but the door remains wide open. This is the ideal program for him at the moment, but obviously, we would love to see him driving a Ford in the world of sports cars. »

It remains to be seen in what form such a partnership could materialize. If an entry into the Hypercar market with the LMDh program is expected in WEC Starting in 2027 still seems premature; a stint in GT driving a Mustang GT3 could be a credible first step. A prospect that would delight Ford… and further fuel speculation about Max Verstappen's future presence in the… 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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