The idea of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo sharing a car again has fans buzzing, and this time the stage would not be a Formula 1 grid but the most iconic endurance race on the planet. Ricciardo recently revealed on the official F1 Beyond the Grid podcast that a one-off appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans holds real appeal for him, and that his former Red Bull teammate sits high on his personal shortlist of ideal co-drivers. Verstappen’s response, delivered ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, mixed characteristic dry humor with clear conditions: he is open to the idea, but only if it can be done properly.
This is more than nostalgic fan service. It touches on career closure for one driver, the expanding horizons of another, and the growing crossover between Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship.
**RICCIARDO SEEKS CLOSURE ON HIS OWN TERMS**
Ricciardo has not raced since he left the Formula 1 grid after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. He later confirmed his retirement from full-time competition. On the podcast he admitted that a year earlier he would have said he would never put a helmet on again. Distance from the sport has softened that stance. A full championship still holds little attraction, but a single high-profile event such as Le Mans feels different.
What draws him is the nature of endurance racing itself. Instead of treating the driver in the other car as a rival to be beaten every weekend, teammates share data, strategy, and the physical and mental load of a 24-hour race. Ricciardo spoke of wanting to take the helmet off at the end of a race and feel genuine satisfaction rather than the complicated emotions that accompanied the end of his Formula 1 chapter. In his words, that kind of experience might provide the last piece of closure.
When asked for his dream teammate, he did not hesitate for long. “I don’t want to put pressure on him, but obviously Max is a name that would be high on the list.” He even floated the idea of a broader Red Bull reunion that could include Sebastian Vettel, framing it as a way to “give the people what they want.”
**VERSTAPPEN’S CAUTIOUS BUT POSITIVE RESPONSE**
Verstappen was asked about the comments in Mexico City. His reply was pure Verstappen: “He’s a smart man to choose me in the car.” The four-time world champion quickly added the necessary caveats. Any Le Mans project would have to be approached with proper preparation and a genuine chance of winning. At the moment he simply does not have the free time. Formula 1 remains his primary focus, and he already balances that with selected GT outings, including appearances at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and other events.
Importantly, Verstappen confirmed the idea was not new to him. The pair have already spoken about it privately. They are not the type, he said, who feel the need to share every conversation publicly. Both appear to agree that a half-hearted effort would be pointless. Competing against full-season professionals requires serious preparation, the right car, and the right timing.
**WHY A VERSTAPPEN-RICCIARDO LE MANS ENTRY MATTERS**
The 2016-2018 Red Bull partnership remains one of the more fondly remembered teammate pairings of the hybrid era. Ricciardo’s smile and racecraft combined with Verstappen’s relentless pace and aggression produced memorable moments and strong results. Their personalities clicked in a way that many teammate combinations never manage. Seeing them share a cockpit again, this time fighting for overall or class victory at Le Mans rather than points in the constructors’ championship, would be a genuine event.
For Ricciardo the personal stakes are higher. His Formula 1 career ended abruptly and without the fairy-tale finish many hoped for. A well-executed Le Mans campaign would allow him to exit racing on a high note, surrounded by teammates rather than measuring himself against them. For Verstappen it fits a broader pattern. The Dutchman has already shown genuine interest in racing beyond Formula 1. He has spoken in the past about wanting to experience Le Mans one day, and his GT program demonstrates he is serious about developing the necessary skills and fitness.
The commercial and sporting impact could be significant. A star-laden entry featuring current or recent Formula 1 talent always raises the profile of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Manufacturers and privateer teams would scramble for the chance to field such a line-up. Broadcasters and sponsors would take notice. Even a strong class result, let alone an overall podium challenge, would generate months of positive coverage.
There are practical hurdles. Verstappen’s Formula 1 calendar is packed and shows no sign of thinning while he remains at the peak of his powers. Ricciardo would need to rebuild race fitness and adapt to the different demands of a Hypercar or LMGT3 machine. Finding the right program, the right manufacturer partner, and a third driver who fits both the performance and chemistry requirements is no small task. Timing is everything. A clash with the Formula 1 calendar or insufficient testing time would make the project unviable under Verstappen’s stated standards.
**LOOKING AHEAD: REALISTIC OR PURE FANTASY?**
In the short term, the answer is almost certainly no. Verstappen has been clear that he cannot currently dedicate the required focus. Ricciardo has emphasized that any return must feel right and not be forced. Yet the fact that both men have discussed it privately and spoken positively in public keeps the possibility alive for the medium term.
The most plausible window would open once Verstappen’s Formula 1 commitments ease or a calendar alignment appears that allows proper preparation. A one-off with a competitive manufacturer entry, perhaps in a Hypercar, would satisfy Verstappen’s insistence on racing to win. Adding Vettel would turn the project into pure nostalgia gold, though the German has largely stepped away from competitive driving.
Even if the specific Verstappen-Ricciardo-Vettel combination never materializes, the conversation itself is healthy for motorsport. It highlights the appeal of endurance racing to drivers who have thrived in the intense, individualistic world of Formula 1. It also shows that Ricciardo still has unfinished business with the sport he loves, and that Verstappen’s curiosity about different forms of racing remains strong.
For now the idea sits in that intriguing space between serious possibility and delightful daydream. Fans will keep watching for any further signals. In the meantime, both drivers continue on their for Ricciardo that means ambassadorial work and life away from the cockpit; for Verstappen it means chasing more Formula 1 success while dipping into GT racing when time allows. The Circuit de la Sarthe will still be there when, or if, the stars finally align.
