Max Verstappen open to 'dream' Sebastian Vettel team-mate partnership

Max Verstappen is open to partnering with Sebastian Vettel in an attack on the Le Mans 24 Hours, but only under the right conditions. 

Verstappen is known to harbour ambitions of competing in endurance racing, and is planning to compete at the Nurburgring 24 Hours later this year.

Given the time required to prepare for Le Mans, a project would be months or even years in preparation, with 2026 not possible due to a direct clash with the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on the weekend of June 13th-14th. 

After retiring from F1 in 2022, Vettel did test a WEC Porsche machine, but a race deal did not materialise. 

Vettel revealed that he had been in contact with his fellow four-time champion about a "little dream" of competing together.

"I have regular contact with Max, and we've already spoken a couple of years ago that if it comes together, we'd drive Le Mans together," Vettel told ServusTV.

"[It is a] little dream."

When questioned about this in Bahrain ahead of pre-season, Verstappen outlined what would be required to make the link-up possible.

"I would love to do that, but of course, only if we're able to fight for wins, and you need to be with the right team. 

"So it is difficult to say at the moment when it could happen, but I heard Fernando [Alonso] is racing until he is 75, so I'm sure we'll find a time and a year to race together."

Alonso, a two-time Le Mans winner with Toyota in 2018 and 2019, then gave his terms for joining forces with his fellow world champions. 

"Well, I have a 100% record at Le Mans, so if I do it again, they need to be very well prepared," he wryly observed. 

Vettel's future

As for Vettel's future, he had been linked with potentially replacing Helmut Marko as the head of Red Bull's young driver programme, but Vettel is keen to keep his options open. 

"Of course, I have a great attachment to Red Bull because of my past, but I also drove for other teams," he added.

"I haven't burned any bridges anywhere and still get along well with everyone.

"It depends on what exactly the role is and whether it suits me, but I have to be in the mood for it, and it has to be a challenge that itches somehow."