The English media outlet The Mirror has no doubt that Max Verstappen will get a new teammate. However, it is not going to happen in Formula 1, it says.
According to the English media outlet The Mirror, Max Verstappen could have a new teammate. It's not about Formula 1, but about the famous 24-hour race in Le Mans, France.
Verstappen and former F1 world champion Fernando Alonso have discussed the possibility of participating together in this race.
Verstappen has stated that plans are in development. He tells Mirror Sport that it is something they have been thinking about for a long time and that 'they' agree to make it happen.
Whether 'they' also count Fernando Alonso as the first is somewhat more uncertain.
Alonso has already won Le Mans twice, while Verstappen is still making his debut in the world's toughest race.
Originally, Verstappen was supposed to race alongside his father, Jos Verstappen, but he has now pulled out of the project. Max explains that his father is still skilled, but that he no longer wants to.
At Le Mans, a team requires three drivers, so Verstappen and Alonso must find a third driver who fits into their team.
An important factor is weight, as Verstappen is one of the heavier drivers in Formula 1. Since there is no minimum weight for drivers in Le Mans, it is an advantage for Verstappen to have lighter teammates.
He states that he needs lighter teammates to compensate for his own weight. Alonso is a light driver, which fits perfectly into the plan, but they still need a third driver.
Verstappen mentions Nyck de Vries as a possible candidate. De Vries is the Dutch Formula E champion and a former Le Mans driver.
The 30-year-old Dutchman, who was fired from Formula 1 last year, is known for his speed in other motorsport classes, as well as maintaining a relatively 'small' fighting weight.
Sources with knowledge of Verstappen's plans also add that they would very much like to have Nyck de Vries on the team, as he is both fast and light.
Although plans are taking shape, it doesn't look like it will happen within the next few years. Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, and he has previously hinted that it could be his last contract in Formula 1.
Alonso's future is more uncertain. He has not yet decided how long he will continue in Formula 1.
Conversely, the Spaniard has more than hinted that he would like to race long-distance races again. It is therefore more a question of when Verstappen and Alonso will race together at Le Mans, rather than if they will.
