Imagine the ultimate star-studded Hypercar entry at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen sharing a cockpit with two-time Le Mans winner Fernando Alonso and his former Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. It sounds like fan fiction, yet the idea just gained real momentum from an unexpected source.
In an exclusive interview with GPblog, Cadillac Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez made it clear he would love to make that trio happen. The Mexican, back on the F1 grid in 2026 with the new American team alongside Valtteri Bottas, responded enthusiastically when asked about lining up with Verstappen and Alonso for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“Yeah, that would be something great to do. You know, with them. But I think that with them it’s also hard to make sure that it happens at the right time, at the right moment,” Perez said. He added with a smile: “Certainly, I would like to do Le Mans with drivers I know I can have fun with. And they are certainly two drivers I can have a lot of fun with.”
That simple statement carries more weight than it first appears. It ties together years of lingering speculation, the evolving ambitions of three elite drivers, and the growing crossover between Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship.
WHY PEREZ’S COMMENTS MATTER RIGHT NOW
Perez has long flagged the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the one race outside Formula 1 that truly interests him. In 2024 he singled it out as the only non-F1 event that appealed. Naming Verstappen and Alonso as preferred teammates elevates the conversation from general interest to a concrete, high-profile fantasy that fans and manufacturers can actually picture.
Verstappen and Alonso have discussed the idea themselves. The Dutchman confirmed in September 2026 that the pair have talked about it. He praised Alonso’s enduring speed at 45 and the value of his Le Mans experience, while stressing clear conditions: the timing must fit both calendars, it has to make sense, it must be on his terms, and there needs to be a genuine chance of winning. Alonso, for his part, has previously said he would only return to the race under the right circumstances and has tempered expectations for 2027, pointing to Verstappen’s packed schedule.
Perez stepping into the conversation as a willing third driver changes the dynamic. He brings proven F1 race-winning pedigree, years of experience managing high-pressure situations alongside Verstappen at Red Bull, and a personality that both champions appear to enjoy. The “fun” element Perez emphasizes is not trivial in endurance racing. A 24-hour event demands mental resilience, mutual trust, and chemistry that pure speed alone cannot supply.
THE CADILLAC CONNECTION ADDS EXTRA INTRIGUE
Perez’s current employer makes the idea even more interesting. Cadillac already competes seriously in Hypercar through its WEC and IMSA programs. The American manufacturer has shown front-running pace at Le Mans in recent seasons, leading significant portions of the race and securing strong results, even if an overall victory has so far eluded them. A works or customer entry featuring three high-profile F1 names would represent a massive marketing and sporting statement for Cadillac and General Motors.
It would also highlight the blurring lines between the two disciplines. Drivers increasingly view endurance racing as a natural next chapter or parallel challenge rather than a complete career pivot. Verstappen has already sampled the pure joy of endurance at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2026, calling it pure motorsport. Alonso remains the only driver to have won both the Formula 1 World Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Perez sits at a career stage where selective, high-profile projects outside the F1 calendar could extend his competitive years and public profile.
SCHEDULING REMAINS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE
None of this will be easy to arrange. Formula 1’s calendar is relentless. Verstappen’s Red Bull contract and commitment level leave limited windows. Alonso continues to race full-time with Aston Martin. Perez is in the critical early years of establishing Cadillac as a competitive F1 force under the new regulations. Finding a year when all three schedules align, a competitive Hypercar seat becomes available, and the manufacturers involved agree is a significant logistical puzzle.
Alonso has already indicated 2027 looks unlikely. Later windows, perhaps after one or more of the drivers step back from full-time F1, appear more realistic. Verstappen has repeatedly said he wants a real shot at victory rather than a ceremonial appearance. That points toward a top manufacturer program with genuine title-contending machinery rather than a one-off privateer effort.
WHAT A TRIO LIKE THIS WOULD MEAN FOR THE SPORT
The impact would stretch far beyond one race. A Verstappen-Alonso-Perez entry would dominate global media coverage in the build-up to Le Mans, drawing casual sports fans and F1 audiences into endurance racing. It would raise the commercial value of Hypercar entries and potentially accelerate manufacturer interest in recruiting current or recent F1 stars.
For the drivers themselves the benefits differ. Verstappen would tick a major box on his personal racing bucket list while testing himself in a completely different discipline. Alonso would add another chapter to an already remarkable career and potentially mentor a younger generation in the art of endurance. Perez would gain a high-visibility platform that reinforces his status as a versatile, well-liked figure in the paddock after his Red Bull years and return with Cadillac.
There is also a human element that should not be overlooked. Perez’s emphasis on fun and existing relationships suggests this is not purely about ego or legacy. Shared history, mutual respect, and the chance to race together for pure enjoyment appear central. In an era of carefully managed careers and intense commercial pressures, that motivation feels refreshing.
LOOKING AHEAD: DREAM OR DESTINY?
Will it actually happen? The obstacles are real, but the desire on at least one side of the triangle is now public and enthusiastic. Motorsport history is full of unlikely pairings that eventually materialize when the timing finally clicks. Alonso’s continued competitiveness, Verstappen’s growing appetite for endurance challenges, and Perez’s openness create a window that did not exist a few years ago.
Cadillac’s dual presence in F1 and endurance racing provides one possible pathway. Other manufacturers with Hypercar programs will be watching closely. Fans, meanwhile, can enjoy the speculation. The image of three high-profile Formula 1 drivers sharing a prototype through the night at Le Mans, managing traffic, strategy, and fatigue together, remains one of the most compelling “what if” scenarios in current motorsport.
Perez has put the idea on the table with characteristic honesty and warmth. Whether the calendars, contracts, and cars eventually align remains to be seen. For now, the dream of Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Sergio Perez sharing a Le Mans garage feels a little more possible than it did yesterday. And in a sport that thrives on ambition and storytelling, that is already something worth celebrating.
