Verstappen to race at Le Mans

Verstappen, who last raced in F1 in 2003, will join experienced Le Mans driver Jeroen Bleekemolen and compatriot and team owner Peter van Merksteijn in driving an LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder under the banner of Van Merksteijn Motorsport by Equipe Verschuur.

The trio will also enter 1,000km races in the Le Mans Series.

"I am looking forward to being able to race again next season, and especially so in the Le Mans 24 Hours," Verstappen said. "That is a highlight for any racing driver.

"Endurance racing with its pitstops and driver changes is entirely new to me and I will have to learn a lot, but I am very confident that I will be able to succeed.

"Of course, Porsche is a great brand with many decades of experience and an incredible pedigree in motor racing. The team also consists of people who know their way at this level, so from that point of view, all the key factors are in place."

Verstappen, the most successful F1 driver to come out of the Netherlands, with 107 Grand Prix starts and two podium finishes, last raced competitively in the first season of the A1GP series in 2005.