Max Verstappen looks beyond F1 as NASCAR interest and GT ambitions grow
Max Verstappen is increasingly looking beyond Formula 1 as he expands his involvement in GT racing and shows genuine interest in potentially trying NASCAR in the future. His competitive performances at the Nürburgring and growing commitment to sportscar racing have opened possibilities that would have appeared highly unlikely only a few years ago.
The Dutchman is clearly widening his racing horizons, and the wider motorsport world is responding. Max Verstappen has already demonstrated that his speed transfers successfully beyond Formula 1, while his presence has also brought significantly greater attention to categories that traditionally operate outside the sport’s enormous global spotlight.
Max Verstappen’s NASCAR interest attracts attention
Over the past two years, Max Verstappen has shown impressive competitiveness in GT racing, particularly on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where his speed has caught the attention of drivers who regularly compete in the category.
At the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, Max Verstappen and Verstappen Racing appeared to be heading towards victory before a technical problem ended their challenge. Despite the disappointment, the performance provided further evidence that the four-time Formula 1 world champion can transfer his ability to a very different type of racing car and competition.
That versatility is one reason why NASCAR has now entered the conversation. Justin Marks, appearing on SPEED with Harvick and Buxton, revealed that Max Verstappen has shown genuine interest in the NASCAR Cup Series, with the subject already having been discussed through the wider Red Bull network.
“It’s definitely a possibility he is considering,” Justin Marks said. “He is eager to try different styles of racing. It might be complicated at the moment, but I wouldn’t rule it out for the future.”
The comments offer no guarantee that a NASCAR appearance will happen, but they leave the possibility clearly open. If Max Verstappen eventually makes the move, he would follow other Formula 1 world champions such as Kimi Räikkönen, Jenson Button and Jacques Villeneuve in competing in American stock-car racing.
Verstappen increasingly looks beyond Formula 1
Max Verstappen has never hidden his interest in racing outside Formula 1, and his growing GT programme has made that ambition increasingly tangible. His long-term future in Grand Prix racing continues to attract attention as well, with speculation surrounding Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 plans remaining a recurring theme during the 2026 season.
For now, Formula 1 remains his primary championship, but the distinction between his F1 career and his wider motorsport ambitions is becoming less pronounced. Instead of merely discussing other categories as something he might explore after retirement, Max Verstappen is already actively competing beyond the Grand Prix paddock.
That adds another dimension to the wider debate surrounding Verstappen’s longer-term racing future, particularly as attention gradually begins to extend towards 2027, 2028 and beyond.
Mercedes-AMG sees the Verstappen effect in GT racing
At the same time, the GT world has experienced a major increase in attention linked directly to Max Verstappen’s involvement. Verstappen Racing’s move to Mercedes-AMG has helped raise the profile of the German manufacturer’s customer racing programme and brought a new audience to GT competition.
Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing, has highlighted the positive impact of the collaboration. Mercedes-AMG has enjoyed a particularly satisfying season, collecting victories and major results across several championships, while the long-awaited overall success at the Nürburgring 24 Hours represented an important achievement for the Affalterbach manufacturer.
Verstappen Racing’s retirement from the Nürburgring 24 Hours was a painful moment after the team had put itself in contention for victory. Nevertheless, Max Verstappen’s participation remained one of the standout elements of the event.
His presence generated exceptional visibility for Mercedes-AMG’s GT programme, attracting spectators, media attention and fans who might otherwise have paid considerably less attention to the category. The effect extended beyond Verstappen Racing itself, increasing interest in GT racing as a whole.
Max Verstappen brings a new audience to GT racing
That impact may ultimately be as significant as Max Verstappen’s results. He is no longer simply a Formula 1 driver occasionally competing in GT machinery; he has become someone capable of directing a much larger motorsport audience towards a category that has traditionally received far less international exposure than Formula 1.
His performance at the Nordschleife demonstrated that the interest is not based purely on celebrity. Max Verstappen has shown that he can compete at the front against experienced GT specialists while simultaneously bringing an enormous additional audience to endurance racing.
Whether NASCAR eventually becomes another part of that programme remains uncertain. What is increasingly clear, however, is that Max Verstappen’s competitive world is expanding beyond Formula 1 — and GT racing may only be the beginning.
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