Verstappen chooses ideal teammate for future Le Mans bid

Three-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen has expressed his desire to team up with none other than Fernando Alonso for a crack at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.

This dream pairing was first floated during the last weekend’s Honda Thanks Day celebration at the Twin Ring Motegi, where Verstappen was asked by fans about his racing aspirations beyond Formula 1.

While a switch to IndyCar isn't on the cards – and likely never will be, Verstappen revealed his openness to exploring other racing avenues.

And when the topic of Le Mans arose, the Dutchman couldn't resist the opportunity to fan the flames of speculation.

“For sure I would like to try a MotoGP bike. I enjoy SuperGT. I got to try one last year, which was very nice,” commented the Red Bull charger.

“The Super Formula cars, they’re very nice. It’s the fastest car below Formula 1, they look great," said Verstappen.

“But Le Mans, I would definitely like to do. I’ve been there already, when my dad used to race in Le Mans.

“The atmosphere is amazing in endurance – so many people, driving through the night, sunrise. I think it’s really cool.”

• Read also: Aston Martin to return to Le Mans in 2025 with Valkyrie Hypercar

Although he’s spoken in the past about teaming up with his father Jos for an assault on the endurance classic, Verstappen reckons that Alonso - a two-time winner at Le Mans with Toyota - would be his ideal partner in crime.

“I've been speaking to Fernando about it,” said Verstappen. “He said he said he would only want to do it with me again. So I was like, wow, that would be really cool."

Indeed, the mere thought of the two F1 titans teaming up sends shivers of excitement down the spines of motorsport enthusiasts worldwide.

There’s no doubt that the sheer audacity of Verstappen's driving prowess combined with Alonso's strategic brilliance and unwavering determination would be a force to be reckoned with, a dynamic duo capable of conquering the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe.

“The only thing is that, for Le Mans, there is not like a minimum weight for the driver.

"I’m quite a heavy driver, so I’d need to find light team mates to compensate. But Fernando is quite light, so it would be quite good. But we’d need to find another one, so I need to have a look.”

Mark our words, folks, this one is worth keeping an eye on.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter