The head of Red Bull's Formula 1 engine partner, Ford, has expressed a strong interest in bringing Max Verstappen into their sportscar programme in the coming years. Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, even hinted at the possibility of pairing the four-time world champion with another iconic name from F1's recent past.
Verstappen's Future in F1 Uncertain
Verstappen has been open about his contemplation of his F1 future. He has admitted to not enjoying the current generation of F1 cars and has found more excitement in his recent visits to the Nurburgring Nordschleife, where he drove a GT3 car, including last month's 24-hour race. During that event, Verstappen and his teammates drove a Red Bull-branded Mercedes, competing against Ford's Mustang GT3 cars.
Ford's Ambitions for Verstappen
Speaking at an event on a yacht during the Monaco Grand Prix, Rushbrook stated his desire to convince Verstappen to join Ford's racing programme. "Of course we do (have conversations), right?" he said. "We have that ladder from a spec racing car to a Mustang GT4 to a Mustang GT3, and now a hypercar coming. So we'd love, when it's right for him and right for us, to have that relationship in sportscar racing as well."
A Potential Reunion with Daniel Ricciardo
An exciting possibility is that Verstappen could once again team up with his first F1 teammate, Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian was Verstappen's partner at Red Bull before being overtaken and eventually leaving to avoid living in the Dutchman's shadow. After stints with Renault and McLaren, Ricciardo left F1 in 2024 and has since retired from motorsport, though he remains an ambassador for Ford Racing and has hinted at a possible return to racing.
Ricciardo's Passion for Ford
Rushbrook shared his enthusiasm for Ricciardo's genuine passion for Ford, particularly the Raptor off-road truck. "When we first met Dan, all he wanted to talk about was Raptors – he owned a Raptor before he had a partnership with us," Rushbrook recalled. "We had him at Raptor Rally, jumping trucks. The smile on his face – I know he's always smiling, but it got even bigger. I don't know if he's ready to compete yet, but hopefully someday."
With Ford's expanding sportscar programme and Verstappen's growing interest in GT racing, a future collaboration could be on the horizon, potentially reuniting two of F1's most charismatic drivers.
