Verstappen Teams Up with Mercedes for 2026 GT World Challenge

Max Verstappen's racing team has officially confirmed its collaboration with Mercedes-AMG for the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe. The program will see Verstappen Racing field a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car, operated by the experienced 2 Seas Motorsport squad. This announcement follows recent sightings of the four-time F1 champion testing the GT3 machine in Portugal, signaling a serious expansion of his motorsport portfolio.

Why it matters:

The involvement of a reigning Formula 1 World Champion brings significant star power and media attention to the GT3 category. For Mercedes, it's a high-profile partnership that validates their customer racing program, while for Verstappen, it marks a strategic alignment with a top-tier manufacturer outside of his primary F1 commitments.

The details:

• The Mercedes-AMG GT3 will compete in both the five-round Sprint Cup and the five-event Endurance Cup of the GT World Challenge Europe.
• Driver Lineup: Chris Lulham and Mercedes factory driver Daniel Juncadella will share the driving duties for the Sprint Cup.
  • They will be joined by Jules Gounon, another Mercedes factory driver, for the Endurance Cup races.
• This new lineup replaces Harry King and Thierry Vermeulen from the previous season's effort.
• Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing head Stefan Wendl expressed delight with the partnership, highlighting 2 Seas Motorsport's proven track record and numerous successes with their cars.

What's next:

The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season is set to kick off at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on April 11-12. All eyes will be on how this new, high-profile partnership fares against the established GT3 competition in one of the world's most competitive GT series.