Journalist could see Max Verstappen teaming up with 35-year-old F1 driver at Le Mans one day

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Journalist Erik van Haren has said he wouldn’t be surprised if Max Verstappen and Nico Hulkenberg teamed up at Le Mans one day.

Van Haren was speaking to Natalie Pinkham and Tom Clarkson on the F1 Nation Podcast.

The trio of journalists were reflecting on another Red Bull-dominated race at Spa-Francorchamps.

Max Verstappen recorded back-to-back victories across the weekend in both the Sprint Race and Sunday’s main event.

McLaren will continue to be hopeful that their recent upgrades could see them be the second-fastest team on the grid after Oscar Piastri’s second-place finish on Saturday.

However, there’s also reason to be optimistic about Ferrari with Charles Leclerc returning to the podium.

After the race, Hulkenberg was spotted entering the Red Bull garage off the back of praise from Helmut Marko.

Speaking to Kleine Zeitung, Marko jokingly said: “Let’s put it that way. We’ll get him [Nico Hulkenberg] for qualifying and Perez will then drive the race.”

Hulkenberg and Verstappen are close and Van Haren has said they could end up driving together at Le Mans one day.

Given the ten-year age gap between the two drivers, it might have to be sooner rather than later.

Hulkenberg and Verstappen at Le Mans

Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast, Pinkham said: “It interests me that Nico Hulkenberg’s just walked past us to go into Red Bull.

“What’s going on there?”

Tom Clarkson added: “Well, funnily enough, that was a new story this weekend because Helmut Marko was bigging up the efforts of Nico Hulkenberg.

Van Haren offered the likeliest explanation and said: “Yeah and he’s doing well. But I think that I think that he has a very good connection with the Verstappen camp and I think Max is here with his private jet and Nico lives in Monaco so maybe that’s the reason.

“Nico and Max they got along well together and if they’re not teammates in Formula 1, you don’t have to be surprised if maybe in a few years’ time they are going to 24 Hours of Le Mans together.”

Hulkenberg and Verstappen would be a fantastic combination at Le Mans, despite their lack of experience in the event.

The experienced German won on his first attempt in the race back in 2015 for Porsche.

If Verstappen had an interest in competing in the Championship, Red Bull might be tempted to enter a team of their won.

Given his immense speed and marketability, they would be wise to follow the Dutchman into any venture he set his mind to.