A New Pathway for Max Verstappen in Australian Motorsport
The dream of seeing Max Verstappen race at Mount Panorama in a Supercar is no longer just a fantasy. After months of speculation, growing interest from Supercars powerbrokers and repeated hints from the four-time Formula 1 world champion himself, there is now a genuine pathway for Verstappen to one day compete at the Bathurst 1000.
The biggest breakthrough came this week when the organisers of the Bathurst 12 Hour event quietly locked in a proposed February 11-14 slot for the 2027 event. This timing opens a window that would avoid clashing with the Formula 1 calendar and potentially allow Verstappen to finally race at Mount Panorama.
Verstappen has never hidden his fascination with Bathurst. At the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year, he declared: “I like Bathurst. It’s an amazing track and a place that I definitely would like to race at. If that’s going to be in GT3 or V8 I don’t know yet, but for sure that would be something really cool.”
These comments followed his first proper taste of Supercars machinery after he drove a Ford Mustang Gen3 car as part of a Red Bull and Ford promotional event in the United States. When asked about the experience earlier this year, Verstappen grinned: “I drove it last week, it was a lot of fun … maybe Bathurst.”
Behind the scenes, momentum has been building rapidly. Triple Eight Race Engineering boss Jamie Whincup has become one of the loudest advocates for bringing Verstappen to Australia, particularly after Triple Eight’s switch from General Motors to Ford strengthened ties with Red Bull’s Formula 1 operation.
‘He’s got his eyes open at the moment, which is good,’ Whincup said. ‘He’s looking at other series and championships. If not this year, next year, we can see him behind the wheel.’
There are still significant hurdles. The biggest obstacle remains Formula 1 itself. The Bathurst 1000 has repeatedly clashed with the Singapore Grand Prix in recent seasons, effectively killing any realistic chance of Verstappen contesting Australia’s biggest touring car race while still fighting for world championships.
Even if the calendars align in future years, Red Bull would still need to approve the appearance – and that is no small issue given the risks involved with Mount Panorama. A heavy crash at Bathurst during an F1 title campaign would be a nightmare scenario for any team principal.
Yet Verstappen is not a typical Formula 1 driver. He already races GT3 machinery away from Formula 1 commitments and has become increasingly vocal about wanting to broaden his motorsport portfolio. His Verstappen.com Racing squad is now heavily involved in endurance competition, while the Dutchman recently competed at the Nürburgring in GT3 machinery alongside drivers with strong Bathurst ties.
Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella and Lucas Auer – all linked to Verstappen’s GT3 program – have extensive experience racing at Mount Panorama and could become key allies if a Bathurst assault is ever organised.
Verstappen has also shown he understands the challenge of adapting to Supercars. “I think after a few practice sessions, it’s fine… you just need a few days of driving. It’s completely different for me,” he previously explained. “Back at home, I also drive in GT3 cars. I really enjoy it, but you have to adapt your style to it, it takes a few days. As a driver, your main skill is to adapt to the situation; it doesn’t matter what car.”
History shows it can be done. Only one Formula 1 driver has ever won Bathurst, with Jacky Ickx famously conquering the Mountain alongside Allan Moffat in 1977. But several F1 names have tackled the event over the decades, including Sir Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme, Sir Stirling Moss and Alan Jones.
Supercars insiders now believe the Bathurst 12 Hour may become the ideal first step before any potential Bathurst 1000 appearance. The GT3 format would suit Verstappen’s current racing interests far more naturally than jumping straight into a Supercar endurance campaign.
And if the world champion ever does arrive at Mount Panorama, there is little doubt it would become one of the biggest moments in Australian motorsport history.
