Verstappen: Alonso ‘Only Wants to Do Le Mans Again With Me’

Fernando Alonso would only be interested in a return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans if it would allow him to team up with Max Verstappen, the Dutchman has revealed.

Alonso competed in the French endurance classic twice with Toyota Gazoo Racing in 2018 and 2019, winning on both occasions.

The Spaniard has in the past voiced hopes of one day returning to Le Mans, but this marks the first time that Verstappen has been named part of the conversation.

The Dutchman, who recently locked up a third consecutive world title after a dominant campaign with Red Bull Racing, is similarly open to the idea of competing in the event and has previously taken part in the 24H Le Mans Virtual.

Were he to make his debut at Le Mans, he would follow in the footsteps of father Jos, who holds two race starts and an LMP2 class victory to his name.

The elder Verstappen won on debut at the wheel of a Porsche RS Spyder, forming an all-Dutch lineup with Peter van Merksteijn and Jeroen Bleekemolen.

A year later, he moved to join Aston Martin Racing and drove a Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 alongside Anthony Davidson and Darren Turner,

“Le Mans I would definitely like to do,” Verstappen said at Honda’s Thanks Day end-of-year-event.

“I’ve been there already when my Dad used to race at Le Mans, and the atmosphere is amazing, with so many people, driving through the night, sunrise… it’s really cool.”

The Dutchman went on to reveal that he discussed the idea of teaming up together with fellow multiple-time world champion Alonso.

“I’ve been speaking to Fernando about it,” said Verstappen.

“He said he would only want to do it again with me. That would really be cool.

“The only thing at Le Mans is there is not really a minimum weight for the driver, and I’m quite a heavy driver, so need to find light teammates to compensate.

“But Fernando is quite light, so it would be quite good, but then I need to find another one, so I need to have a look.”

Both drivers are unlikely to compete at Le Mans anytime soon, considering both are currently under contract in F1, where the ever-expanding calendar would make it difficult for them to add any FIA World Endurance Championship rounds to their schedule in preparation for Le Mans.

Alonso himself was the last to race at Le Mans as an active F1 driver in 2018, when he dovetailed his McLaren F1 commitments with his role in the Toyota LMP1 program.

The Spaniard joined Aston Martin on a multi-year deal starting in 2023, meaning he is under contract until at least the end of next year.

Verstappen, meanwhile, signed a deal with Red Bull last year that will see him tied to the Milton Keynes-based operation until the end of 2028.

The last driver to win Le Mans while under contract in F1 before Alonso was Nico Huelkenberg, who joined Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber aboard a Porsche 919 Hybrid in 2015.