Max Verstappen has once again been in action in a GT3 vehicle. About a week after the Formula 1 season finale, the four-time world champion completed test drives in Estoril, Portugal. Verstappen drove a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The vehicle was from 2 Seas Motorsport deployed, to a team that already worked for Verstappen.com Racing last season. In the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, the squad supported the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with which Chris Lulham, Thierry Vermeulen, and Harry King won the Gold Cup title.
The test in Estoril fuels speculation about a possible involvement from Verstappen.com Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe from 2026 with a Mercedes-AMG GT3. Rumors to this effect have been circulating in the paddock for some time. The current test drives are considered a further indication of this option.
During the test session, two Mercedes-AMG GT3s in the Verstappen.com Racing livery were on track. The cars bore the start numbers 33 and 333.
Max Verstappen was supported during his drives by Mercedes-AMG works driver Jules Gounon. The Frenchman is among the most successful GT drivers of recent years, having won the 24 Hours of Spa in 2022, as well as the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup titles in 2022 and 2023, among other victories. In the 2025 season, Gounon also completed his first full DTM season.
It remains unclear whether and with which vehicle Max Verstappen will be 24 Hours of Nürburgring will compete. He won his first GT3 race in the Nürburgring Endurance Series convincingly in September in a Ferrari 296 GT3. Recently, there have been indications that a start in the endurance classic might not happen until 2027, as Verstappen is focusing on the new Formula 1 regulations in 2026. However, current test activities could influence this planning again.