In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook revealed that the American marque is having “regular discussions” with Max Verstappen about doing more in sportscars – including hypercar.
Ford will join the top class of the World Endurance Championship from 2027 onwards, which also means it will compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours. That race has been on Verstappen’s wish list for quite some time and, through the Red Bull-Ford partnership in Formula 1, opportunities could arise for the Dutchman to step into Ford’s hypercar – provided the calendar allows it.
Ex-F1 driver Logan Sargeant currently races for Ford in the WEC, albeit this year in the LMGT3 class. From next year onwards, however, he will take the wheel of the hypercar, which is set to begin testing at various circuits later this year.
Sargeant would certainly welcome Verstappen as a future team-mate. “Well, if he is driving, I hope he’s in my car!” Sargeant laughed in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com.
“That’s for sure. 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.”
Learning from Verstappen
#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon
#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon
Asked what exactly that advantage would be, Sargeant replied: “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.”
According to the 25-year-old, the benefits go far beyond simply having a fast team-mate who can help move the team forward. “It goes so much beyond just driving style, seeing what he’s doing with the tools, lap in, lap out, how he’s making adjustments…
“Obviously, he has so much experience from Formula 1. For him, it would just be like plug and play. There’s so much you can learn from someone like that.
“You don’t win four world championships without the speed he has. You see it, even when he’s not in the best car, he still finds a way to make it work. That can’t be said for everyone.”
Photos from Spa – Saturday
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
Jakob Ebrey / LAT Images via Getty Images
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
Jakob Ebrey / LAT Images via Getty Images
#12 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V-Series.R: Norman Nato, Will Stevens
#12 Cadillac Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V-Series.R: Norman Nato, Will Stevens
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TR010: Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa
#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TR010: Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa
Paul Foster
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
#009 Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie: Alex Riberas, Marco Sorensen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
FIA WEC / DPPI
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
Paul Foster
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
Paul Foster
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
#94 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire
FIA WEC / DPPI
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Paul Foster
#32 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 EVO: Darren Leung, Sean Gelael, Augusto Farfus
#32 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 EVO: Darren Leung, Sean Gelael, Augusto Farfus
Paul Foster
#69 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 EVO: Anthony Mclntosh, Parker Thompson, Daniel Harper
#69 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 EVO: Anthony Mclntosh, Parker Thompson, Daniel Harper
Paul Foster
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
Jakob Ebrey / LAT Images via Getty Images
#83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, Philip Hanson
#83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, Philip Hanson
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#36 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Jules Gounon, Frederic Makowiecki, Victor Martins
#36 Alpine Endurance Team Alpine A424: Jules Gounon, Frederic Makowiecki, Victor Martins
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R: Peter Dempsey, Salih Yoluc, Charlie Eastwood
#34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R: Peter Dempsey, Salih Yoluc, Charlie Eastwood
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen, Dries Vanthoor
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen, Dries Vanthoor
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#58 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo: Alexander West, Finn Gehrsitz, Benjamin Goethe
#58 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo: Alexander West, Finn Gehrsitz, Benjamin Goethe
Paul Foster
#93 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Paul Di Resta, Stoffel Vandoorne, Nick Cassidy
#93 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8: Paul Di Resta, Stoffel Vandoorne, Nick Cassidy
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TR010: Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa
#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TR010: Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa
Jakob Ebrey / LAT Images via Getty Images
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
Jakob Ebrey / LAT Images via Getty Images
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
FIA WEC / DPPI
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
FIA WEC / DPPI
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
Jakob Ebrey / LAT Images via Getty Images
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
#15 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Raffaele Marciello, Kevin Magnussen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
#10 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO: Antares Au, Thomas Fleming, Marvin Kirchhofer
FIA WEC / DPPI
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
FIA WEC / DPPI
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
FIA WEC / DPPI
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns, Sheldon Van Der
James Moy Photography via Getty Images
#92 The Bend Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R: Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera, Richard Lietz
#92 The Bend Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R: Yasser Shahin, Riccardo Pera, Richard Lietz
Jakob Ebrey / LAT Images via Getty Images
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
#20 BMW M Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Rene Rast, Robin Frijns
FIA WEC / DPPI
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