Verstappen sees himself more at the 24 Hours of Le Mans than at the Indy 500
Max Verstappen has stated that he does not plan to participate in the Indianapolis 500. However, the Dutch driver leaves the door open for a possible participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This weekend, the Monaco Grand Prix took place. As usual at the end of May, the weekend on the Rock is also synonymous with a historic event across the Atlantic, as the Indianapolis 500 miles is held at the same time. Two of the three jewels of the Triple Crown thus take place on the same weekend. We still have to wait for another week or so to see the last event of this legendary sequence, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Many Formula 1 drivers have tried their hand at the Indy 500 or the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and sometimes even both, like Fernando Alonso who didn’t hide his desire to complete the Triple Crown after already winning in Monaco and Le Mans.
Quizzed on the subject during the Monaco weekend, Max Verstappen initially stated that this Triple Crown was not a short-term goal. [I have] no desire to chase the Triple Crown, at least not in IndyCar. […] I’m trying, of course, to be good in F1, to be good at everything I do, but this desire for the Triple Crown or anything like it, not interested.
Invited to delve into the subject of the Indianapolis 500 miles, the Dutchman explains that he finds this race too risky. « I appreciate what they do. It’s crazy. These drivers, I have a lot of respect for what they achieve over there. But for me, especially because I haven’t been in F1 for that long already, I don’t need to risk my life there and get hurt, legs or whatever… It’s not worth it, let’s say it like that. »
Unlike the American race, Verstappen seems already more excited about the idea of participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Maybe Le Mans. I love endurance races, so I will probably do it, hopefully soon, but for me, it doesn’t really matter.
It would therefore not be impossible to see Max Verstappen as part of a team for the 24 Hours of Le Mans after his stint in F1, or even before, who knows. Many drivers have wanted to pursue this Triple Crown once their Formula 1 career is over, like Fernando Alonso who, beyond these two other iconic races, also tried his luck at the Dakar Rally in 2020.
