Before the Las Vegas GP weekend, Max Verstappen drove to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. There, at Honda’s invitation, the Dutchman tested the Acura ARX-06 GTP sports car.
Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen could secure his fourth consecutive world title next weekend in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old Dutchman has repeatedly said: We will not see him in Formula 1 for as long as Lewis Hamilton (39) or Fernando Alonso (43).
The 62-time GP winner has emphasized his interest in endurance racing, and got his first taste at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a 20-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip Circuit GP course.
At Honda’s invitation, drivers from Red Bull Racing (Verstappen and Sergio Pérez) and Racing Bulls (Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson) tested various Honda cars. World champion Verstappen caused a stir when he entered the Acura ARX-06 GTP sports car under the guidance of IMSA driver Colin Braun – the first time Verstappen had driven a long-distance race car, which was run at Daytona or Sebring. (2.4 liter twin-turbo V6, 670 hp). Honda won at Daytona in 2023 and at Sebring in 2024.
Verstappen in the press round: “I follow the IMSA series and the World Endurance Championship because some of my friends race there. I have actually already driven these cars in the simulation, but now to get the feeling in real life is very good.”
Soon Max was up to speed, but the engine’s complex braking system made it more difficult for him. Verstappen asked Braun how he could best deal with it. During the first use, the front wheels locked up too many times and Verstappen failed to turn crisply.
Verstappen later: “With the temperature here being low, it took a long time to turn on the tires, but it was exciting to get to the limit gradually. But I didn’t want to go too far, I just wanted to have a little fun. I feel that when the speed increases, this car comes alive.”
“I know that I will do this (endurance racing, MB) in the future, it’s just a matter of finding the time. With our busy schedules, this is almost impossible these days. We don’t finish the GP season until the beginning of December, so it’s hard to prepare well for the Daytona race in January.”
“If I do that, then of course I want to be a competitor and be able to win, so that will only be possible in a few years. I can only be in music if I prepare well, and that is not possible now. But I will still be young in a few years.”
“I also want to drive at Le Mans, but again – it’s difficult to combine that with the F1 program. I don’t think I could divide my time between Formula 1 and endurance racing.”
“I have a contract in Formula 1 until the end of 2028. But for me a lot depends on how the new cars will run from 2026. The number of races is also a factor, how often you are away from home, our program is very demanding.
“I’m happy with what I’m doing today. But I also want to try other things and run a little bit sometimes. If you run the World Endurance Championship, for example, then of course there are few races. One race is more intense because it lasts up to 24 hours, but you have more free time. Maybe it’s more relaxed, maybe you can enjoy life outside of racing more.”
“I’m not stressed about my future. Of course I want to do well and win races. But it’s also about enjoying your job.”
