Le Mans attracts not only many fans but also many drivers from every category. The charm of the most prestigious 24 hours in the world, so much so that it is part of the triple crown together with Monaco GP and at the Indianapolis 500 he also impressed Max Verstappen who has never denied a future participation in Le Mans, perhaps even at the same time as the F1 world championship.
The 24th Le Mans will contest its 92nd edition this weekend at the Circuit de la Sarthe. There is a lot of anticipation especially after Ferrari's return to the Endurance Championship last season. Among the drivers who have frequented a Formula 1 paddock and who are preparing to compete in the prestigious 24 hours include Mick Schumacher, Giovinazzi, Kubica, De Vries, Kobayashi and many others. But there is another name that attracts the various teams a lot, and this name is that of Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen contacts to race at Le Mans and doubts about the regulations
The three-time world champion, having already experienced it as a spectator, did not deny his interest in the 24 hours of Le Mans, also attracted by a series of factors that characterize endurance races. However Verstappen made it clear that he wanted to wait, not convinced by the BoP and the issues relating to the weight of the drivers, which makes a huge difference in terms of performance.
"Of course you get contacted by some people, but it has to come at the right time and in the right way. I don't want to make a hasty decision either. With these new cars, I think it will take at least another year or two before everything is better understood, because at the end of the day it's still a Balance of Performance story and that makes it difficult. I find there is a bit of confusion here and there. Furthermore, for me, the rider's weight must also have a limit, because I can reach 80 kilos, but there is also a rider who can reach 55 or 60 kilos. When you go to Le Mans, you have no chance: it's already a couple of tenths a lap. It's an incredible difference. So they have to solve this problem. There must be an average or minimum weight to be respected.”
Formula 1 and Le Mans at the same time?
Another aspect to take into consideration is the Formula 1 match and the 24 Hours which should fit into a very busy agenda. The preparation for a 24 hour race is very important, and thinking about participating in the midst of a Formula 1 World Championship, with 24 Grands Prix, becomes difficult. This is why Max has always talked about the possibility of participating but at the end of his career. Lately, however, this thought seems to have been re-evaluated by the Dutchman who is willing to find a compromise if the regulations satisfy him enough to compete at Le Mans in the short term.
In fact, Max believes that a compromise can be found to combine the two events. As Nico Hulkenberg demonstrated, winning the 24 hours of Le Mans with Porsche in 2015 in the midst of an F1 season, albeit obviously with fewer GPs than the 24 achieved now.
"It completely depends on the preparation, whether it can be done in a good way or not. That's kind of what I usually do in the simulator. Obviously I wouldn't have driven that virtual race during the Imola weekend if I hadn't been able to prepare adequately, but this time I could do it and therefore it was possible. Of course you can't run Le Mans and Formula 1 in one weekend, but if you can combine them in an optimal way, then I think it can be done during the F1 season".
Statement source: Motorsport.com
