Just in: Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso dealt Le Mans blow by…… read more 

Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso dealt Le Mans blow by…… read more 

Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso are eager to fulfill their dream of competing together at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, but they are currently in need of a third driver for their team. The two multiple world champions have expressed a strong interest in participating in this iconic endurance race sometime in the future.

Initially, it was thought that Verstappen’s father, Jos, would join them as the third driver. However, Jos has recently indicated that he no longer wishes to race at Le Mans, prompting Max and Fernando to look for a replacement. Max, a four-time world champion who has yet to take part in the legendary race, shared their search for a new teammate during an interview with Mirror Sport. He acknowledged his father’s capabilities but confirmed that Jos has decided to step back from racing.

Max stated, “It’s in the back of our minds, we know that we want to do it… [Jos] is still very good at it, but he doesn’t want to. He just doesn’t want to do it anymore.” He emphasized that while they are still keen on the idea, finding a suitable third driver will be a challenging task, especially since he has many friends in the racing community.

Last year, Verstappen revealed that Alonso, the Aston Martin driver, was interested in joining him for this endeavor. Reflecting on his experiences, Max noted, “Le Mans I definitely would like to do… I’ve been there already when my dad used to race, and the atmosphere is amazing.” He elaborated on the allure of the endurance race, mentioning the thrill of driving through the night and witnessing the sunrise. Max also mentioned that Alonso expressed a desire to join him, saying, “He said he would only want to do it with me again.”

An important consideration for the team is the driver weight for Le Mans, as there is no minimum weight requirement. Max pointed out that he is relatively heavy, which necessitates finding lighter teammates to balance the weight. While Alonso fits this criterion, they will need to identify a third driver who can also meet this requirement.

In the meantime, Verstappen is still linked to a potential move to Aston Martin, where he could become teammates with Alonso in Formula 1. However, a spokesperson for Aston Martin has denied recent rumors about a massive £1 billion bid for Verstappen, who remains under contract with Red Bull until 2028 and has consistently stated he has no plans to leave the team.