While the Formula 1 paddock queued up to ask Max Verstappen about his championship, his contract, and his future, the man himself was glued to GT3 onboard footage on his phone. Priorities noted.
Two Races, One Very Busy Weekend
Thursday at the Austrian GP is press day. Carefully worded non-answers, branded backdrops, the usual circus. For Verstappen, it was also about keeping one eye fixed firmly on Spa-Francorchamps, where his Verstappen.com Racing team is competing in the Spa 24 Hours this weekend.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, decked out in Red Bull colours, is being driven by Daniel Juncadella, Chris Lulham and Jules Gounon. The car qualified seventh overall on Thursday. Not a bad position, considering their team principal is simultaneously preparing to do battle at the Red Bull Ring.
“Yes, I’ll try to watch it as much as I can. The car is racing with our drivers, so I’m very much involved this weekend.” – Max Verstappen
He Wants to Drive It Himself
Verstappen made zero effort to hide his frustration at missing out as a driver. He has already approached the GT World Challenge Europe organisers with a very specific request for the 2027 edition.
“Of course, I wish that I could race in Spa as well. I told them already for next year. It would be ideal if they could schedule it outside of a Formula 1 weekend, so let’s see.” – Max Verstappen
There is a precedent. The Nürburgring 24 Hours schedule was adjusted around his F1 commitments, letting him compete last month. He came close to winning it. Given the commercial gravity Verstappen brings to any event he enters, expecting the Spa organisers to at least consider it is not unreasonable.
Skip an F1 Race? Red Bull Would Not Approve
When someone suggested he could simply skip a grand prix to race at Spa if the title fight is already beyond reach, Verstappen shut it down with a laugh.
“I’m sure that Red Bull will not be very happy with that!” – Max Verstappen
Quite. With Red Bull having brought a seven-part upgrade package to Austria in a desperate bid to close the gap to Mercedes, the last thing anyone at Milton Keynes wants is their star driver watching from a hospitality sofa in the Ardennes. Verstappen sits seventh in the championship on 55 points. Every race counts.
A GT Wishlist That Only Gets Longer
Beyond Spa and the Nürburgring, Verstappen has the Daytona 24 Hours and Le Mans on his longer-term radar. The GT rabbit hole goes deep, and he is enthusiastic about every corner of it.
“Spa is an amazing track and a 24-hour race with only GT cars is something very special.” – Max Verstappen
For a man whose Formula 1 future carries genuine uncertainty heading into 2027, the passion for life beyond the single-seater world is unmistakable. Whether any of that shapes his long-term plans remains to be seen. For now, he is watching GT3 onboards on his phone before press conferences. That tells you everything about where his heart is.
