Max Verstappen Rules Out 2027 Le Mans 24-Hour Race

Max Verstappen has ruled out a 2027 Le Mans debut, but the four-time F1 World Champion is targeting the Nürburgring 24 Hours and Spa 24 Hours instead.

Verstappen closes the door on a 2027 Le Mans debut

Max Verstappen has ruled out competing in the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The decision comes despite the race falling on a weekend without Formula 1. Verstappen confirmed his plans in Baku on Wednesday, saying that the Nürburgring and Spa are more likely options for his 2027 endurance programme.

“Nürburgring and Spa, probably. Le Mans, not. It’s not on my list at the moment,” Verstappen said.

That leaves the Dutchman with two major 24-hour races on his agenda.

Both also fit around the recently announced 2027 F1 calendar.

Verstappen wants another opportunity at the Nürburgring after losing the 2026 race because of a late mechanical failure.

The 2027 24 Hours of Nürburgring is scheduled for May 27-30. That puts it before the Monaco Grand Prix, which will take place from June 4-6.

For Verstappen, the event has particular importance.

Nürburgring remains a priority for Verstappen

Verstappen made his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut in 2026 with Verstappen Racing and Mercedes-AMG.

He shared the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella. The car was leading the race deep into the event before a late technical failure ended its challenge.

The result did not change Verstappen’s opinion of the circuit.

After the race, he said he wanted to return. The Dutchman later confirmed that he would try again depending on his schedule.

That opportunity is now available.

The 2027 Nürburgring date does not conflict with an F1 Grand Prix. It also gives Verstappen several weeks before Monaco to complete the endurance event without immediately moving into another F1 weekend.

Verstappen continued to build his experience in GT3 machinery during the 2026 Nürburgring programme.

The 2026 programme also gave Verstappen valuable experience on the Nordschleife.

He raced in preparation events before the 24-hour classic and won the second round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie with the Mercedes-AMG GT3.

That experience is one reason the Nürburgring remains an attractive option for 2027.

Spa is another endurance target

The second race on Verstappen’s radar is the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

The Belgian endurance classic is scheduled for June 24-27, 2027. It falls between the Portuguese Grand Prix on June 18-20 and the British Grand Prix on July 2-4.

That makes Spa a realistic option from a calendar perspective.

Verstappen had already expressed interest in competing at Spa. In 2026, he said he would have liked to race there if the event had not clashed with Formula 1.

The 2027 schedule removes that direct conflict.

The Spa programme would also be another step for Verstappen Racing, his own GT3 operation.

The team competed at the 2026 24 Hours of Spa with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO driven by Daniel Juncadella, Chris Lulham and Jules Gounon. Verstappen himself could not take part because of the F1 calendar conflict.

That situation changes in 2027.

The official F1 calendar places the Austrian Grand Prix on July 9-11 and the Belgian Grand Prix on July 23-25. Spa’s 24-hour race therefore sits between F1 weekends.

Why Le Mans remains different

Le Mans presents a more complicated challenge.

The 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans runs from June 9-13, with the race itself taking place on June 12-13.

The 2027 F1 calendar places Monaco on June 4-6 and Portugal on June 18-20. So the main 24-hour race does not directly overlap with a Grand Prix.

However, Le Mans requires a much broader commitment than the race itself.

Its race week begins days before the 24-hour contest. There are also preparation and track activities that make the event significantly more demanding for a driver coming directly from an F1 season.

For now, Verstappen has decided that the commitment is not one he wants to make in 2027.

Verstappen’s focus remains split between F1 and GT3

The Dutchman’s endurance plans do not mean that Formula 1 is becoming secondary.

Verstappen remains focused on his F1 programme while developing his GT3 activities outside the championship. His Nürburgring and Spa plans fit into a calendar that was specifically arranged without direct clashes on those weekends.

That gives him the possibility to compete in major endurance events without sacrificing an F1 Grand Prix.

For now, the plan is therefore becoming clearer.

Le Mans is off the 2027 list. Nürburgring and Spa are the races Verstappen is considering.

The Nürburgring is already confirmed for May 27-30, 2027, while Spa is scheduled for June 24-27. Whether Verstappen ultimately enters both events will depend on his final schedule and preparations.