Max Verstappen has returned to the track behind the wheel of a Mercedes GT3 to prepare as thoroughly as possible for his 2026 plans outside the Formula 1 World Championship: here is the VIDEO from the test session at Portimão.
On-track action for the four-time world champion started earlier than for anyone else… or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it never really stopped. While waiting to get behind the wheel of the new Red Bull Formula 1 car, Max Verstappen climbed into a Mercedes AMG GT3 at Portimão to prepare for his 2026 season in categories outside Formula 1. Let’s take a look at the VIDEOS from the test.
Verstappen and his objective in the GT world
The Dutch driver has never hidden his admiration for endurance racing and GT championships. On several occasions, he has admitted that one of his childhood dreams has always been to compete in the World Endurance Championship, or in other series featuring closed-wheel cars.
Verstappen’s goal for 2026 is to take part in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, held on the extremely demanding circuit that stretches for more than 20 kilometres through the German forests. In order to compete in this prestigious race, car number 3 has had to follow a very specific path. He needed to make several appearances in the German NLS championship before earning the Nordschleife licence.
Max’s preparation
With the new season approaching, and just a few weeks before his debut behind the wheel of the new Red Bull for the first tests in Barcelona, Max Verstappen returned to the track. On the ups and downs of the Portimão circuit in Portugal, he drove a Mercedes AMG GT3 featuring the sponsors of his Verstappen.com Racing Team.
All of this represents a new challenge for a driver who is constantly hungry for victory. Even four world titles in the highest level of motorsport are not enough for him. He wants more. He wants to leave his mark and be the best wherever he goes.
The sight of Max Verstappen in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 may look like a “spy shot” for some F1 fans, but it highlights the champion’s relentless drive to master every corner of the racing world. By shifting from Ferrari to Mercedes for his personal GT3 project, Verstappen is strategically positioning his own racing brand to compete at the highest level of the Pro class in GT World Challenge Europe. While his primary focus remains the 2026 F1 title fight and the debut of the Red Bull-Ford partnership, his winter “training” at Portimão shows that for Max, there is no such thing as an off-season—only an opportunity to get faster.
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