Max Verstappen has revealed his objectives for the near future, focusing not on Formula 1, but rather on the world of GT3 competition. The massive comeback staged by Verstappen in the second half of the 2025 F1 season was ultimately not enough to secure the world title, as the Dutch driver had to relinquish his crown after four years to Lando Norris. However, during the course of this season, Verstappen also managed to surprise the paddock with his participation in the 4-hour Barbarossapreis at the Nürburgring, behind the wheel of a Ferrari 296 GT3.
Speaking on a podcast published on the official Oracle Red Bull Racing YouTube channel, Max Verstappen explained how he manages to balance the intense commitments of F1 with his expanding interests in the GT3 world.
More than just Formula 1
During the latest podcast episode, Max Verstappen detailed his goals for the immediate future: “Yes, it’s getting more and more serious. I mean, this year we entered obviously not as a pro-car, but in the Gold Cup; so, one of the drivers who got into the car came from the world of sim racing. Now we have won, obviously, the Gold Cup championship, which is precisely one step below the pro-cars. I think that was our goal at the beginning of the year. And I also think that, during the year, the drivers made significant steps forward, really understanding how to overcome difficulties with the car’s balance, how to go faster, and how to optimize qualifying, races, and everything else.”
Verstappen did not hide his desire to continue improving and to reach new milestones outside of the F1 circus: “Next year, obviously, we want to be in the Pro Championship, basically. We are changing cars—I can’t say which one yet. But you will find out soon.”
The delicate balance between F1 and GT3
Max Verstappen also shared the secret that allows him to sharpen his skills in both categories simultaneously: “Well, if you are passionate about something, it’s easier to dedicate your time to it, right? If you have to do things you don’t really like, then it becomes mentally exhausting. But if it’s your passion and you love what you do, then it’s not mentally tiring.”
Even during his downtime, his thoughts remain occupied by the racing world, specifically the technical nuances of the GT3 category: “Most of the time it’s about what I can change on the GT in terms of things I want to modify or optimize. Yes. F1… well, I already have many people behind me in the team whom I trust and who do their jobs well. But in the GT world, the team is much smaller. Yes. And there are still many things I need to understand better and learn. So I think about it even at night.”
For a competitor like Max Verstappen, there is no such thing as “off-hours” when it comes to performance: “I can wake up in the middle of the night with some idea and I have to test it. I cannot wait,” he concluded.
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