Max Verstappen has never hidden his curiosity for the world of endurance racing, and Le Mans remains, for many drivers, the most romantic peak to climb. Confirming the reigning world champion’s interest is Sébastien Buemi, someone who has triumphed four times at the Circuit de La Sarthe.
“He’ll do it, it’s just a matter of time”
A former Formula 1 driver and now a top contender in the WEC with Toyota, Sébastien Buemi spoke about Verstappen’s future on the RacingNews365 podcast. The two know each other well, thanks in part to their work with Red Bull, where Buemi still contributes as a simulator driver.
Their conversations, he says, often go beyond F1. “Max is passionate. We’ve talked a lot about Formula E and the WEC,” the Swiss driver revealed.
The obstacle? The regulations—more specifically, the average driver weight. In endurance racing, crew composition is critical: teams must meet a regulatory average weight across the three drivers, currently set at 82 kg. If the average is lower, the car receives compensatory ballast. But if the average is higher—as can happen with physically larger drivers like Verstappen—the excess weight is not offset in any way.
This means every kilogram counts and can affect performance. It’s understandable, then, that Max Verstappen sought clarification before seriously considering a debut:
“It was a point Max wanted clarified before taking part in the race,” Sébastien Buemi said.
There’s another crucial aspect: the calendar. F1 is a full-time commitment, and finding room for Le Mans is not easy. But the desire is there, and Buemi—who will be at Le Mans this year for the 14th time—is certain: “It’s not a question of if, but when.”
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