Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is setting his sights on a new goal away from football and is eyeing a Formula 2 team ownership.
The Belgian stopper was a standout presence at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, presenting sprint race trophies to Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri after waving the chequered flag. But his appearance wasn’t just for show; Courtois is a lifelong motorsport enthusiast.
“Even as a child, I loved watching Formula 1, especially with Michael Schumacher and Ferrari,” Courtois told Belgian broadcaster Sporza. “I also follow Formula 2 and 3, so my passion isn’t limited to just F1.”
That passion led him to launch TC Racing in 2023 alongside former F1 driver Roberto Merhi. The Madrid-based outfit debuted in the Spanish F4 championship last year and is already plotting its climb up the FIA’s single-seater ladder.
“We are currently racing in Formula 4 in Spain, but the plan is to step up to Eurocup-3 next year,” Courtois revealed. “The goal and our dream is to move up to Formula 3 and, hopefully, even Formula 2. Formula 1 may be a stretch without a very big partner, but we’re aiming high.”
Courtois is heavily involved in his team’s strategic direction, making most key decisions as an investor. Beyond real-world racing, his organisation also fields an esports team, aiming to identify sim racing talent and transition them into real-life motorsport, a concept similar to F1 champion Max Verstappen’s GT3 project.
While his towering height rules out competing in single-seaters himself, Courtois dreams of one day taking part in GT3 racing after retiring from football, but only if he can be competitive.
“I don’t want to be three seconds off the pace,” he said. “If I do it, I want to do it properly.”
