F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Verstappen puts Bathurst 1000 Supercar event on bucket list

Max Verstappen’s racing curiosity has never been confined to Formula 1 – and now, one of motorsport’s most revered events has firmly landed on his radar.

Fresh off a secretive drive in an Australian Supercar, the four-time F1 world champion has officially teased a future appearance at the legendary Bathurst 1000.

The revelation came during a high-energy video on Red Bull Racing’s social media, where Verstappen was grilled about his interest in various global racing disciplines.

While he shot down several of the world’s biggest categories with his trademark bluntness, the mere mention of Australia’s premier touring car series caused a noticeable spark.

A ‘Secret’ Steer and a Mount Panorama Tease

The buzz began when Verstappen was asked about the bruising world of Supercars. Having recently sampled the machinery in a clandestine session, the Dutchman didn’t hide his enthusiasm.

“I drove it last week, it was a lot of fun,” he revealed. When the conversation turned to the possibility of a competitive cameo, he dropped the ultimate breadcrumb for motorsport fans: “Maybe Bathurst.”

©RedBull

The timing is far from coincidental. Details of this mystery test drive are expected to be the centerpiece of Ford Racing’s massive season launch in Detroit later today.

Verstappen will be front and center as Ford officially returns to the F1 grid as Red Bull’s power unit partner – a collaboration that has already bridged the gap between Milton Keynes and the Supercars world.

With Red Bull now backing the Ford-aligned Triple Eight Race Engineering, the path for a Verstappen "wildcard" entry at Mount Panorama has never been clearer.

Picking Favorites: Why Supercars Won the Toss

What makes Verstappen’s interest in Bathurst so "spicy" is the absolute carnage he left in the wake of his other answers. In the same video, the Red Bull ace was asked about a move to the United States or a pivot to off-road racing.

The result? A triple-header of rejection. Verstappen flatly ruled out any future in NASCAR, IndyCar, or the World Rally Championship (WRC).

©RedBull

However, the "tin-top" bug seems to have bitten hard. Beyond the V8-powered Mustang, Max confirmed he remains hungry for endurance challenges. He flagged a serious interest in the GT World Challenge – unsurprising given he has recently launched his own GT team – and the World Endurance Championship.

It seems that for Verstappen, if it doesn't involve the tactical depth of endurance racing or the raw, tail-happy nature of a Supercar, he’s simply not interested.

For the "Mountain" faithful, the prospect of a four-time F1 champion tackling the Dipper and Conrod Straight is no longer a fever dream – it’s a growing probability.

Read also: Why Verstappen isn’t expecting much running at F1’s first test

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Michael Delaney

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