Ford’s Mark Rushbrook Invites Max Verstappen to Join WEC Hypercar Programme

TL;DR: Max Verstappen lapped Fuji Speedway 1.7 seconds quicker than a Super GT professional, while Ford confirmed it will field a hypercar entry in the World Endurance Championship starting in 2027, with team principal Mark Rushbrook saying he would welcome Verstappen’s involvement.

Ford is returning to Formula 1 as a power‑unit partner for Red Bull ahead of the 2026 season, but the company has a long history in sportscar and endurance racing. Ford won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times in the 1960s with the GT40.

Mark Rushbrook, who leads Ford’s performance‑motorsport division, said he has spoken repeatedly with the four‑time F1 champion about opportunities outside Formula 1. Verstappen is set to race his first 24‑Hours of Nürburgring later this month in a GT3 car.

Rushbrook told Motorsport.com that he loves Verstappen both on and off the track and described him as a racer who wants to compete in more series.

He added that regular discussions have taken place about Verstappen joining Ford’s planned WEC hypercar programme, which will debut in 2027 and include the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In a separate demonstration at Fuji Speedway, Verstappen drove a Super GT300 car he had never seen before and posted a lap of 1:42.290, beating Super GT driver Atsushi Miyake’s time of 1:44.075 by 1.7 seconds.

The lap shows Verstappen’s ability to adapt quickly to unfamiliar machinery, a trait Rushbrook highlighted as valuable for developing a hypercar. If Verstappen joins Ford’s WEC effort, his feedback could accelerate the car’s development and bring additional visibility to the programme.

Ford’s move into the hypercar class places it alongside manufacturers such as Toyota, Porsche and Ferrari, signaling a broader push into endurance racing. The next step will be to see whether Verstappen’s schedule allows a test or race appearance with Ford before the 2027 debut, and how his Nürburgring GT3 outing influences any decision.