F1 confrontation averted, but is it possible for Lando Norris or Max Verstappen to compete at Le Mans 2027?

The unveiling of the 2027 Formula 1 schedule on Wednesday appears to have left a pathway open for grand prix drivers to participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours next year. The 24-race lineup includes a convenient one-week interval for the 95th edition of the French endurance classic, which is set for the weekend of June 12-13. Additionally, the two F1 events flanking Le Mans are Monaco and Portugal, making travel between the three venues relatively simple.

Yet, even though a scheduling conflict has been averted, hurdles still remain for Max Verstappen or Lando Norris to make their Le Mans debuts next year. They face several challenges that must be addressed to become the first active grand prix driver to compete at Le Mans since Nico Hulkenberg.

The Le Mans test day issue 

While Le Mans itself doesn’t coincide with F1, there are still overlaps with the overall schedule to consider. Notably, the Le Mans test day on June 6 coincides with the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.

According to sporting regulations, attendance at the Le Mans test day is compulsory for rookies, who must complete 10 laps — including five timed laps — around Circuit de la Sarthe to qualify for the race.

With the test day scheduled for the same weekend as F1’s marquee event, this creates multiple complications. Unlike the NLS, which rescheduled its second round this year to accommodate Verstappen, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the FIA are unlikely to modify the World Endurance Championship’s timetable for the benefit of a single F1 driver. Such changes could also have broader implications, potentially causing issues for full-time sportscar racers who compete across multiple championships.

However, an F1 driver aspiring to participate in Le Mans does not necessarily need to attend the test day. Under the supplementary regulations for Le Mans, a Platinum driver engaged in another major motorsport series can request an exemption from the ACO Sport Committee. If approved, the driver must fulfill the required laps during practice on Wednesday.

There is precedent for the ACO Sports Committee granting such exemptions to competitors in other international championships. In 2021, Robin Frijns was permitted to skip the Le Mans test day due to his commitments in Formula E, despite being a rookie, while Nolan Siegel and Kyffin Simpson also did not take part in the 2024 test while competing in IndyCar at Road America.

Race winner #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TS050: Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Fernando Alonso

In theory, it is logistically feasible to complete both the test day and the Monaco GP. Such a strategy would involve traveling to Le Mans on Saturday night after F1 qualifying, hitting the track early Sunday morning to complete the 10 mandatory laps, then flying from the airport next to the circuit and arriving in Nice in time for the grand prix at 3pm.

While this may seem ambitious, Kyle Larson attempted a similar feat in 2025, competing in both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Coincidentally, the NASCAR Cup driver raced for Arrow McLaren in IndyCar’s flagship event, with approval from his Hendrick Motorsports team.

However, while Larson’s example suggests McLaren Racing chief Zak Brown is open to such dual commitments, he may be less accommodating with his own drivers Norris and Oscar Piastri. Brown had a lot to gain with Larson as he was essentially borrowing a driver from another (NASCAR) team. Hendrick was also protected in this arrangement, as Larson was contractually obligated to truncate his Indy 500 participation if there were significant delays, prioritizing his NASCAR obligations.

With Norris (or Piastri), Brown might be hesitant to compromise McLaren’s chances at Monaco, particularly with the addition of the sprint race on Saturday morning complicating an already hectic weekend.

Third car challenge

For Verstappen, Norris, or even Fernando Alonso to race at Le Mans, teams need to create spots for them in their line-ups. There are two potential solutions to this dilemma.

One approach is to include a third, Le Mans-oriented entry, allowing teams and manufacturers to maintain their primary two cars intact. This was the route Porsche took when they entered Hulkenberg, Earl Bamber, and Nick Tandy in 2015.

However, that event occurred during the LMP1 era, when manufacturers were investing hundreds of millions into their annual WEC programs. The landscape has since changed, and some Hypercar teams have realized that operating an extra car can be more trouble than it’s worth. Furthermore, both Porsche and Cadillac have leaned on their IMSA Sportscar Championship teams for additional entries more recently in the WEC’s Hypercar phase.

Fielding an additional car would be particularly arduous for McLaren or Ford, who are entering the Hypercar category for the first time next year. Both have also postponed plans to participate in IMSA for the time being. While there are various reasons behind their hesitation to engage in the North America-based championship in the short term, they also underscore concerns about managing dual programs.

Ford Hypercar

While McLaren is collaborating with United Autosports to run its Hypercar team, Ford is constructing a race team entirely from the ground up to manage the operational aspects of its Hypercar initiative. Consequently, a third Ford LMDh entry in 2027 is exceedingly unlikely. Ford has also finalized the six drivers for its Hypercar program, leaving no openings for Verstappen in its two cars. While Ford could bench one of its full-time drivers, that is highly improbable.

McLaren has not indicated any plans for a third car at Le Mans next year either. Additional cars also require authorization from the FIA and the ACO, and must adhere to grid spacing limitations.

Nonetheless, there might be a spot for Norris (or Piastri) in one of McLaren’s two entries next year.

As the testing program progresses, it seems increasingly probable that McLaren will field just two drivers per car for the regular six-hour races, with extra drivers brought in for Le Mans and the longer endurance events in Qatar and Bahrain. Both Aston Martin and Porsche have adopted this strategy in the Hypercar for tactical reasons.

This pathway presents perhaps the most promising opportunity for a McLaren F1 driver to compete at Le Mans next year. So far, McLaren’s Hypercar team has only announced two drivers, Mikkel Jensen and Laurens Vanthoor, both of whom were present alongside Norris during Monday’s Portimao test. There is considerable speculation linking Alex Lynn and Malthe Jakobsen with the remaining two positions.

It is quite possible that McLaren may only employ these four drivers on a full-time basis, with Norris joining for one or more of the longer events.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Preparation for Le Mans

Even if the aforementioned issues can be resolved, drivers will still require extra track time to brace for a Le Mans start.

Norris took a significant step in this regard when he joined McLaren’s Hypercar team on Monday, completing 38 laps around the Algarve circuit in Portimao. While McLaren’s testing agenda would have been organized months prior, and Norris’ involvement could have been decided well in advance of the F1 calendar’s finalization, it is highly likely they were cognizant of the full schedule when Norris drove the MCl-HY on Monday.

However, testing alone would not provide an F1 driver with insight into the WEC’s sporting protocols, including full-course yellows, safety cars, and navigating LMGT3 and LMP2 traffic. For a newcomer to arrive at Le Mans fully prepared, participating in a prior race would be extremely beneficial.

Currently, neither the Qatar 1812km season opener nor the Spa 6 Hours overlap with F1. Both events could serve as ideal testing grounds, with Qatar hosting the second-longest race on the calendar and Spa acting as the unofficial practice run for Le Mans.

Nevertheless, the workload remains a concern, as drivers would need to incorporate two WEC events and possibly a test day into an already demanding F1 schedule.

Spa/Nurburgring 24 options

#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen

For someone like Verstappen, who wishes to explore opportunities beyond F1 while remaining committed as a full-time driver, the 2027 calendar presents easier options than Le Mans.

Both the Nurburgring 24 Hours and the Spa 24 Hours do not conflict with the 2027 F1 schedule. Verstappen already made his debut at the iconic Nordschleife race this year, and following his late-race disappointment due to mechanical failures beyond his control, he would be eager to return in 2027 to mount another attempt at victory.

Verstappen has also expressed his desire to compete in the Spa 24 Hours, a race for which he has been preparing his team for several years.

“I wish that I could race in Spa as well,” he stated in June this year, while participating in the conflicting Austrian GP. “I’ve already informed them for next year. It would be ideal if they could schedule it outside of a Formula 1 weekend, so let’s see.”

Thus, while a 2027 Le Mans appearance isn’t entirely off the table, Norris and Verstappen (along with their respective teams) will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to make it a reality. A 2028 debut might be more feasible, as both McLaren and Ford would then have a year’s experience under their belts. However, with the constant potential for scheduling conflicts with F1, drivers may prefer to seize the opportunities presented by the 2027 calendar.