Helmut Marko rules out Max Verstappen skipping F1 races for endurance ambitions

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Max Verstappen is already a complete motorsport talent, but that reputation keeps growing with every new discipline he takes on.

After his win in Monza, Verstappen secured his Nordschleife license, and then followed up his Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory by making his competitive GT3 debut.

The Red Bull driver arrives in Singapore fresh from another win, this time in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie championship, where he marked his 28th birthday with another addition to an already impressive list of achievements.

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Teaming up with Chris Lulham, Verstappen took victory in the four-hour race by a margin of 24 seconds.

Verstappen’s long-term goal is to expand further into endurance racing. But whether he can do that while still competing in Formula 1 is far from certain.

This season, Red Bull has given Verstappen more freedom as their chances in the drivers’ championship faded early on.

Two straight wins have put him back into contention. However, with rule changes coming and no promise that Red Bull will stay competitive, Helmut Marko and Laurent Mekies might need new ways to keep Verstappen committed to the team.

Journalist Matt Beer has discussed how Red Bull are handling Verstappen’s interest outside F1 and what it means for their future plans with him.

Helmut Marko unlikely to let Verstappen miss F1 races for endurance racing

Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, Beer discussed Verstappen’s ambitions outside Formula 1 and noted: “It was notable in Baku when he was talking about all this after his first race.

“He was very clear that Helmut Marko, the very influential Red Bull motorsport adviser, is right behind him on this.”

“Marko’s greatest career achievements in his own racing days were in sports car racing. So, he’s like, yeah, Helmut knows endurance, he loves it too, he’s really up for this as well.”

“So I doubt that would extend to even Helmut Marko saying, yes, skip a couple of Grand Prixs, even if Red Bull does struggle next year.”

“And Max himself was very clear in saying I don’t know what 2026 will look like for the new rules or my team or whatever.”

“Before he commits to Nurburgring next year, he wants to see what’s required of him in F1 in terms of focus as much as anything else. But yeah you don’t get the impression Red Bull will stand in the way of anything much here.”

Which World Endurance Championship events could Max Verstappen compete in next season?

The World Endurance Championship is the ultimate target for Verstappen, though it’s a big leap from what he experienced at the Nordschleife last weekend.

Marko has already dismissed the idea of Verstappen racing at Le Mans, which coincides with the Spanish Grand Prix.

There are seven other rounds outside Le Mans, including the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, held at Verstappen’s favourite Formula 1 circuit.

That event takes place between Miami and Montreal. He could also travel to Sao Paulo in July during a break in the European leg of the 2026 F1 season for the championship’s fifth round.

It makes sense that Verstappen wouldn’t want to spend his entire career in Formula 1. When he decides to step away from chasing more F1 titles, it will be one of the more intriguing stories developing quietly around the paddock.

But given his other interests in motorsport, it’s unlikely he’ll try to match Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton’s longevity in F1.