Sébastien Buemi, the experienced endurance racer and Red Bull development driver, believes Max Verstappen’s entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans is inevitable, although certain conditions need to improve first. He highlighted driver weight concerns as a significant obstacle delaying the Dutchman’s participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) event, scheduled at the Circuit de la Sarthe.
Buemi, a four-time Le Mans winner with Toyota, has stayed in contact with Verstappen and confirmed that while the Red Bull Formula 1 World Champion is passionate about endurance racing, adjustments in regulations regarding driver weight balance must happen before Verstappen can compete at Le Mans. The demanding Formula 1 calendar also complicates a timely debut for the driver.
The role of driver weight and scheduling conflicts in Verstappen’s Le Mans ambitions
Verstappen has expressed interest in endurance racing for some time, but concerns over the Balance of Performance (BoP) rules in the WEC persist. Buemi explained that although averages are considered among teams’ drivers, heavier drivers still face disadvantages that need to be resolved.
“I haven’t see him for quite a long time, but the last time we saw each other we discussed about everything,”
Buemi said during the RacingNews365 podcast.
“He’s passionate. He asked me a lot about Formula E, we spoke about WEC. Obviously, I remember I used to talk about the weight between the drivers being a factor also for him to compete, which has been adjusted with the average of the three drivers.”
Buemi added,
“It’s not ideal yet. Obviously, if you are heavy, it’s still a bit of an issue. But that was something he wanted to be clear and amended before he would take part.”
He acknowledged the difficulty Verstappen faces in aligning his Formula 1 commitments with endurance racing.
“But I’m sure, Formula 1 is extremely heavy. It’s a heavy schedule. It’s very difficult to commit to do Le Mans. But I know it’s just a matter of time until he actually does it.”
Verstappen’s current contract and cautious approach to balancing disciplines
Max Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull runs through to the end of the 2028 season, and he has openly acknowledged the challenges of combining an endurance racing program with his F1 responsibilities. Speaking with media last summer, he made clear his preference to focus on one discipline at a time to avoid subpar preparation.
Explaining his reluctance to mix racing formats, Verstappen stated,
“No, not really. I don’t think I want to do that, because you want to focus on one thing fully.”
He emphasized the negative impact of juggling different series:
“You start combining stuff and then you can do only one race, so you’re also not really well prepared.”
Implications for Verstappen’s endurance racing future
The combination of technical hurdles such as driver weight regulations and Zerard Verstappen’s busy Formula 1 schedule means his debut at the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans remains delayed. Nonetheless, Sébastien Buemi’s close relationship with Verstappen and insight into the situation underline that it is only a matter of time before the Dutch champion takes on one of motorsport’s most prestigious endurance events.
When these challenges are resolved, Verstappen is likely to join the ranks of Triple Crown contenders, adding a new chapter to his racing career beyond Formula 1, and marking an important moment in endurance racing’s evolving landscape.
