Max Verstappen Confirms Le Mans Plans, Inviting ‘Lightweight’ Driver to Complete Dream Team With Fernando Alonso

Max Verstappen‘s love for racing knows no bounds. Along with his mainstream F1 interest, the Dutchman excels in sim racing and harbors a dream of competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 3-time champion has already conversed with fellow champion Fernando Alonso about potentially pairing up for the endurance race. It has been a full year since those conversations, and the Red Bull driver has finally found another friend to complete the trio.

Unlike F1, where the car and driver’s combined weight is standardized, Le Mans has no such rules. So a lighter driver will naturally go quicker than heavier ones. And this is exactly why Verstappen agreed to have “quite light” Alonso as his teammate. The Aston Martin driver, who won the 2018 Le Mans, even said that he would be “honored” with this pairing. Ahead of the Monaco GP, when Verstappen sat with Yuki Tsunoda for the Thursday press conference, among others, his eyes sparkled. When asked about his lifelong Le Mans dream, Verstappen replied, “Yuki, I need you as my teammate there. You’re so light, you’ll be flying. You can compensate for my weight!”

Further elaborating on the absence of a weight limit, he said, “I feel like there needs to be a limit on that, because I might rock up, 80 kilos with a kit, but there is also a driver that can be 55 or 60. No offence, Yuki, ” he joked, adding, “And I find like, when you go to Le Mans, you have no chance. You know, that already is a couple of tenths a lap. It’s pretty incredible, the difference. So they need to sort that out.”

“There needs to be an average or minimum, you know, weight that you need to comply to. But for sure in the future, I would like to race,” he emphasized, confirming his future participation. With his caliber, Verstappen could also win the 24-hour endurance championship in the first try, like Alonso. Amid the jokes, even Tsunoda found a potential calling as George Russell joined in his fun too.

George Russell seconds Max Verstappen’s stance to make fun of Yuki Tsunoda

Apart from the disadvantages mentioned by Max Verstappen, Le Mans has its own ups and downs. Drivers in their 60s and 70s have also participated in the championship. Though they lost to younger and lighter competitors, the adrenaline hit the same. Despite the glorious side, George Russell, who is yet to fulfill his dream of an F1 championship, echoed his Red Bull rival.

“Like Max said, I think, how things are in Le Mans at the moment, such a great championship, but it is quite unfair to the guys of our weight,” the Briton said in Monaco., continuing, “We’re all sort of 80 kilos with our kit and our helmets. And you know, Yuki would have six-tenths on us before we even start.” Hearing the six-tenths advantage was music to Tsunoda’s ears. “I think I’ve found my dream job!” he replied.

Witnessing the current F1 grid compete for 24 hours straight is music to our ears. Verstappen, Tsunoda, and Alonso against Russell and more? That sounds more entertaining than the Monaco GP, where the Top 10 was unchanged; don’t you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments.