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May 7, 2026 — Ford has made no secret of its interest in Max Verstappen for its sports-car programs. Mark Rushbrook, Ford's global racing director, told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf that the four-time Formula 1 world champion is firmly on the manufacturer's radar. The catch: Verstappen's GT3 operation is tied to Mercedes-AMG through 2027, so any Ford seat would likely have to wait until at least 2028.
Ford already has a connection to Verstappen in F1. The American manufacturer is a technical partner in Red Bull Ford Powertrains, which powers Red Bull Racing under the new engine regulations introduced in 2026. That relationship gives Ford a visible link to the champion, even though his race cars are not built by Ford. His separate GT racing program, Verstappen.com Racing, runs Mercedes-AMG machinery with factory support.
Rushbrook did not try to hide Ford's ambition. "Of course, we want to have the best drivers," he said. "So for us, it would certainly be interesting, let me put it that way."
The timing is significant. Ford already races the Mustang GT3 in GT categories, and it plans to enter the Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 2027. Verstappen, meanwhile, has said he wants to race at Le Mans at some point, and Ford would be one of the most high-profile doors available to him.
This is not a new idea. At the WEC 6 Hours of Spa earlier this year, just before Verstappen made his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut in a Mercedes-AMG, Rushbrook confirmed that Ford had been in talks with Verstappen about a Le Mans Hypercar drive. Those conversations reportedly go back more than three years.
"We would love to see it," Rushbrook said at Spa. "A lot of things to align for that to happen, but that would of course be incredible for us, for the sport."
At the time, Rushbrook ruled out 2027, Ford's first season in the Hypercar class. A third Le Mans car in the debut year, he said, would be "taking on too much." That makes 2028 a far more realistic starting point.
Rushbrook also revealed that Verstappen has tested the Ford Mustang GTD at Circuit du Grand Sambuc. That is useful background for any future program: Ford has already put the Dutchman in one of its performance cars, and the experience appears to have gone well enough for Ford to keep pushing.
Ford's willingness to wait is understandable. Verstappen is not just a top-level F1 driver; he is also a proven sports-car racer with a genuine passion for GT racing. His Verstappen.com Racing team is active in GT3 competition, and he has taken part in endurance events despite his F1 schedule. For Ford, signing him would immediately raise the profile of both its GT and Hypercar efforts.
There is a significant hurdle. Verstappen.com Racing is committed to Mercedes-AMG for 2027, so a Ford deal cannot happen before 2028 unless something changes in that agreement. Rushbrook made clear that Ford respects the existing commitment and understands why Verstappen chose to stay with Mercedes.
"We prefer our Ford drivers to stay in Ford," Rushbrook said in May. "We understand why he did that, we love his passion, we love that he's a racer, we love what he does with us in Formula 1, and we love him as a person."
That comment reflects the unusual position Ford is in. Verstappen works with the company on the F1 side through Red Bull Ford Powertrains, yet he races against Ford customer teams in GT3 machinery built by a rival manufacturer. Ford appears willing to work around that contradiction.
Dutch outlet GP33 reported that Ford currently supplies only twelve parts for the RB22, which illustrates how limited the manufacturer's hands-on F1 involvement remains. Most of the Red Bull Ford project is centered on the power unit, not the chassis. A direct Verstappen association in GT or Hypercar would give Ford a more personal, more visible link to the sport's biggest star.
The latest comments also came at a moment when Verstappen was publicly critical of the Red Bull Ford package at the United States Grand Prix, pointing to inconsistent engine braking. That criticism shows he is already engaging with Ford's F1 development as a driver. It does not appear to have cooled Ford's interest in him for sports-car racing.
If a deal does come together, there are two possible routes. Ford could place Verstappen in its factory-supported Mustang GT3 program, either through Verstappen.com Racing or as a guest driver in key races. The more ambitious option would be a Hypercar seat at Le Mans, with selected WEC rounds around it.
A full WEC season would be difficult for Verstappen while he is still racing in Formula 1. But a Le Mans appearance is plausible, especially if Ford's Hypercar program is solid enough by 2028 to handle the extra attention.
Ford has not put a firm timeline on the table, and Verstappen has not made any commitment. The situation remains open, with Ford clearly hoping that its combination of F1 partnership, GT presence, and Hypercar ambition will eventually be enough to bring him into its camp.
Until then, Verstappen stays a Mercedes-AMG driver in sports cars and a Ford-linked driver in Formula 1. The earliest moment those two worlds can merge is 2028. Ford is prepared to wait.
