Verstappen plans to follow MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi in switch away from F1

17 October 2023 , 13:22

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Verstappen plans to follow MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi in switch away from F1

Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has hinted that he would like to emulate MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi by switching to GT cars in the future.

Verstappen, 26, won his third world title during last Saturday's sprint races in Qatar before winning the corresponding Grand Prix to extend his lead at the summit of the drivers' standings to 209 points. The Red Bull driver has now won three consecutive world titles with his teammate, Sergio Perez, currently second in the standings.

The recently minted champion has been fielding questions over his future ahead of the United States Grand Prix. And Verstappen has his sights set on following a similar path to Rossi, who moved to the GT World Challenge in the latter stages of his career.

In an interview with Italian outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport, Verstappen made it clear that working with GT cars is an avenue he would like to explore, potentially, in the future. When he was asked about future plans, he said: “Less... I will race longer, but not in Grand Prix races.

“It would be nice to do like Valentino Rossi, I like to see his races in GT, a category I have an interest in because we have our own car entered. He did everything he could in MotoGP, with a crazy career, and now he's having fun, while still working hard and wanting to win again. I think I will look for something similar in the future.”

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Verstappen, who debuted in F1 as a teenager, stoked speculation earlier this year that he could walk from the sport when his current contract expires in 2028. The Red Bull ace will be 31 at the end of that deal, which he signed last March.

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen would like to emulate MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi and move to GT cars (Getty Images)

Speaking back in May, the jewel in Red Bull's crown told Sky Sports: "I know that I will be 31 when it's the end of my contract. At that point already I will have been in F1 a very long time and it's a lot of work. It's travelling a lot, not only the races but in between you're travelling to the factory, you have marketing commitments and I'm really a person who loves to be at home.

"I like to be competitive, and I like to win but if you can't fully motivate yourself to get to every race, then that's the point you have to question yourself, 'Do you really want to continue?'"

Dan Marsh