As Formula 1 prepares for the Canadian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has made no secret of another major goal for this weekend: winning the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The Dutch driver is set to tackle the legendary Nordschleife, often referred to as the Green Hell, alongside Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
However, that particular car choice has not gone unnoticed at Ford.
Max Verstappen ready for the Nürburgring in a Mercedes
While Max Verstappen’s passion for motorsport beyond Formula 1 is well established, his latest endurance racing ambition has created some mild frustration within the American manufacturer. Ford, which became Red Bull’s power unit partner for Formula 1 from this year onward, would clearly have preferred to see the reigning world champion racing in one of its own machines rather than a Mercedes GT3 car.
That position was openly acknowledged by Mark Rushbrook, Ford’s global director of motorsport, during a recent media session held at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
Ford wanted Verstappen in a Mustang GT3
According to reports from Sportscar365, Ford had explored the possibility of bringing Max Verstappen into this competition, as well as the GT World Challenge Europe, with a Mustang GT3 Evo instead.
Rushbrook did not hide what Ford’s ideal scenario would have been: “We would prefer our Ford drivers to stay in Ford,” he said. “We understand his reasons. We love his passion. We really appreciate what he does for us in Formula 1. We appreciate the person he is.”
The Ford motorsport chief also stressed that Max Verstappen’s broader racing activity is viewed positively inside the company: “We appreciate the fact that he is a true racer, whether that means sim racing or anything else, because that only makes him better. This is the right programme for him at this moment. But of course, we would love to see him in a Ford in the sports car world.”
Ford’s growing relationship with Max Verstappen
Although Max Verstappen is not directly contracted as a Ford factory driver, the American manufacturer’s new partnership with Red Bull naturally creates a closer connection with the Dutchman.
That explains why seeing one of Formula 1’s biggest stars competing in a rival manufacturer’s GT3 machinery may not be the ideal image from Ford’s perspective, even if the comments from Mark Rushbrook appeared more playful than confrontational.
For now, however, Max Verstappen’s Nürburgring ambitions will continue in Mercedes machinery, while Ford can only watch and wonder what a Mustang GT3 campaign with the four-time Formula 1 world champion might have looked like.
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