The dream of seeing Max Verstappen charge across the top of Mount Panorama in a Supercar is no longer being dismissed as fantasy.
After months of speculation, growing interest from Supercars powerbrokers and repeated hints from Verstappen himself, there is now a genuine pathway for the four-time Formula 1 world champion to one day race at the Bathurst 1000.
The biggest breakthrough came this week when Bathurst 12 Hour organisers quietly locked in a proposed February 11-14 slot for the 2027 event.
That opens a window that would avoid a clash with the Formula 1 calendar and potentially open the door for Verstappen to finally race at Mount Panorama.
The Dutch superstar has never hidden his fascination with Bathurst.
At the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year, Verstappen 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.’
Verstappen admitted Mount Panorama remains one track he desperately wants to conquer during his growing GT3 racing adventures worldwide
A February Bathurst 12 Hour date could finally create the perfect opening for Verstappen’s long-rumoured Australian motorsport appearance
Supercars insiders believe a Bathurst 12 Hour debut could become Verstappen’s gateway toward eventually tackling the famous Bathurst 1000
Those 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.
Jamie Whincup believes Max Verstappen could eventually race at Bathurst following Triple Eight’s switch to Ford this season
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.Â
His Verstappen.com Racing squad is now heavily involved in endurance competition, while the Dutchman recently competed at the NĂĽrburgring 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.
