Sargeant: Verstappen would ‘kick everyone’s ass’ in the WEC

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It’s almost a given that, at some point in the coming years, Max Verstappen will race in the World Endurance Championship, and when that day arrives, his rivals on the grid should be worried. Very worried.

As Ford gears up for its blockbuster entry into the WEC Hypercar class in 2027, the American manufacturer says that it has held talks with Verstappen about the possibility of swapping Grand Prix Sundays for the brutal, sleepless warfare of Le Mans?

According to former Williams charger Logan Sargeant – now a Ford works driver in the WEC – that scenario would not just shake up endurance racing, it could completely tilt the balance of power.

And if the four-time F1 world champion does make the leap? Sargeant wants him in the same garage.

The 25-year-old currently races a Proton Competition Mustang GT3 Evo in the WEC but will step up to Ford’s LMDh sports prototype endurance programme in 2027. And he didn’t hesitate when asked about the possibility of teaming up with Verstappen

“Well, if he is driving, I hope he’s in my car!” Sargeant told Motorsport.com.

For the former Grand Prix driver, Verstappen’s reputation stretches beyond Formula 1 dominance. In his eyes, the Dutch superstar operates on a level few drivers in motorsport history have ever reached.

“That’s for sure. In my opinion, Max is the best to ever do it. So if I could share a car with him, that would be a huge privilege and a huge advantage.”

That statement alone would turn heads in a sport packed with legends and world champions. But Sargeant was only getting started.

‘He’s going to most likely kick everyone’s ass’

Ford’s Hypercar project is already carrying major expectations before a single race has even been run.

The American giant’s return to top-flight endurance racing comes with ambitions of conquering the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race Verstappen has openly admired for years.

Thanks to Ford’s growing ties with Red Bull through Formula 1’s engine partnership, the possibility of Verstappen eventually testing – or racing – the Hypercar no longer feels like fantasy paddock gossip. It feels plausible.

©Ford

And Sargeant believes the consequences for the competition could be brutal.

“Well, he’s the quickest driver in the world. He’s going to most likely kick everyone’s ass. I’d rather that be in my car than the other,” he said.

It is the kind of statement that will echo through rival team garages. Hypercar has become one of the fiercest battlegrounds in world motorsport, with manufacturers pouring resources into factory programs and elite driver lineups.

Yet Sargeant speaks as though Verstappen could walk in and immediately become the benchmark.

More than raw speed

Sargeant also made clear that Verstappen’s edge would not simply come from outright pace. The American pointed to the Dutchman’s technical instincts, relentless consistency, and ability to adapt – qualities that could make him terrifyingly effective in endurance racing.

“It goes so much beyond just driving style, seeing what he’s doing with the tools, lap in, lap out, how he’s making adjustments…

“Obviously, he has so much experience from Formula 1. For him, it would just be like plug and play. There’s so much you can learn from someone like that.

“You don’t win four world championships without the speed he has. You see it, even when he’s not in the best car, he still finds a way to make it work. That can’t be said for everyone.”

©Verstappen.com/David Klopman

That final observation may resonate most deeply inside the WEC paddock. Endurance racing is unforgiving: changing grip levels, traffic management, strategy swings, mechanical preservation, and multi-driver coordination can humble even elite single-seater stars.

But Sargeant clearly believes Verstappen would not merely adapt – he would dominate.

And if Ford manages to place the reigning Formula 1 titan into one of its future Hypercars at Le Mans, the warning from inside its own camp is already crystal clear: the rest of the field may be racing for second place.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.