So Max Verstappen just signed a multi-year deal with Mercedes. No, he hasn’t abandoned Red Bull for Toto Wolff’s operation. He’s not joining Lewis Hamilton in retirement. Verstappen Racing has partnered with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport for GT3 racing starting 2026. Because nothing says “I’m exhausted from F1” quite like immediately filling your winter calendar with endurance racing in someone else’s machinery, does it?
The four-time world champion tested a Mercedes GT3 at Estoril last week. Now it’s official. His team’s switching from Ferrari and Aston Martin machinery to the three-pointed star for the GT World Challenge Europe. Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup. The full programme. Including the 24 Hours of Spa, which Verstappen’s never hidden his ambition to race.
This is the same driver who just lost the championship by two points to Lando Norris after mounting a 104-point comeback. His reward? Signing paperwork with the German manufacturer that’s spent years trying to dethrone Red Bull’s dominance. F1’s tribal warfare apparently doesn’t apply when GT3 contracts are involved.
When Your Hobby Becomes Your Second Full-Time Job
Verstappen Racing will field a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in both championship categories. Chris Lulham returns for his second season, this time partnered with experienced Spanish driver Daniel Juncadella. The duo will tackle the five Sprint Cup rounds together. For the Endurance Cup, they’ll be joined by Mercedes factory driver Jules Gounon.
That’s a properly serious line-up. Juncadella’s got extensive GT3 credentials with Mercedes machinery. Gounon’s a proven endurance specialist. Lulham won an NLS race with Verstappen in 2025, so they’ve already got chemistry. This isn’t some vanity project where a celebrity shows up for photo opportunities then disappears. This is Verstappen building an actual competitive operation.
The team will be supported by 2 Seas Motorsport, who bring considerable experience running Mercedes GT3 cars. Stefan Wendl from Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing delivered the expected corporate enthusiasm about the partnership.
“We are delighted that Verstappen Racing has chosen to field a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GT World Challenge Europe. With 2 Seas Motorsport, the project is supported by a highly experienced team that has already achieved numerous successes and championship titles with our car.” – Stefan Wendl
Translation? Mercedes is properly chuffed that F1’s most marketable driver has chosen their machinery for his side project. The publicity value alone justifies whatever support they’re providing.
The Calendar That Never Stops
Let’s address the obvious question. When exactly does Verstappen plan to sleep? He’s committed to a 24-race F1 calendar starting March in Australia. Now he’s adding GT3 sprint races and endurance events across Europe. The 24 Hours of Spa happens in July, right in the middle of F1’s summer stretch.
Fair play to him, actually. Most drivers treat the off-season like survivors escaping a warzone. Hamilton’s throwing his phone in bins. Others disappear to beaches or mountains. Normal behaviour after nine months of relentless competition. Verstappen’s going the opposite direction. Season ends, immediately start planning the next racing adventure.
Lulham’s properly excited about continuing with new machinery and a proven teammate.
“It is really exciting to continue racing in the GT World Challenge Europe, now with a new teammate and new car. I have learned and experienced a lot in my first year of GT3 racing, and it’s an unbelievable opportunity to now be able to work with such professionals as Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and Daniel. I can’t wait to get started.” – Chris Lulham
When Your F1 Rival Becomes Your GT3 Partner
Here’s the properly entertaining element. Verstappen’s signing with the same manufacturer that powered McLaren to the 2025 constructors’ championship. The same engines that helped Norris beat him by two points. Mercedes supplied the power units that ended his four-year title reign.
Now he’s racing their GT3 machinery because apparently grudges don’t extend beyond F1’s paddock. Fair enough. Business is business. If Mercedes builds competitive GT3 cars and provides proper support, why wouldn’t Verstappen choose them?
Juncadella explicitly thanked Verstappen for the opportunity whilst praising the project’s strength.
“I’m excited to be partnering up with Chris in the upcoming GT World Challenge Europe season and thankful for Verstappen Racing to be partnering up with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. With the input that Max brings to the table, it’s a really strong project.” – Daniel Juncadella
The “input that Max brings” is presumably more than just his name on the entry list. Verstappen tested extensively with various GT3 machinery in 2025. He raced twice himself, winning on debut at the Nürburgring in a Ferrari. He’s not just funding this operation, he’s actively involved in development and strategy.
The 24 Hours of Spa Nobody’s Denying Anymore
Gounon joins for the Endurance Cup rounds, including Spa’s 24-hour marathon. That’s the race Verstappen’s wanted to compete in for years. He’s repeatedly mentioned his ambition to tackle endurance racing’s most prestigious GT3 event. Now he’s got factory backing, experienced co-drivers, and proper operational support to make it happen.
“As I have worked for years with Mercedes-AMG, it is just great to now continue to build on that experience, together with Verstappen Racing, Chris and Dani. It is a fantastic project that has all the ingredients to make it a success. I look forward to working together.” – Jules Gounon
The 2026 Spa 24 Hours doesn’t clash with the F1 calendar. That’s been Verstappen’s primary concern when planning GT3 commitments. He’s not sacrificing F1 obligations for endurance racing. He’s maximising every available weekend to compete in something, somewhere, against somebody.
When Losing the Championship Creates More Opportunities
Perhaps losing to Norris freed Verstappen mentally to pursue these projects more aggressively. The four-year championship streak ended. The pressure of maintaining perfection disappeared. Now he’s free to explore racing for its own sake rather than constantly chasing records.
Or maybe he’s just incapable of relaxing. Some athletes need constant competition to function properly. Verstappen might be one of those personalities who views downtime as wasted opportunity rather than necessary recovery.
Either way, Mercedes has secured F1’s biggest name for their GT3 programme. Verstappen gets competitive machinery backed by a manufacturer with extensive racing heritage. 2 Seas Motorsport provides operational expertise. The driver line-up combines youth and experience perfectly.
The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season starts in April. That’s barely a month after F1’s opener in Australia. Verstappen will go from testing new F1 regulations in Bahrain to immediately jumping into GT3 machinery for European sprint races. What a properly insane schedule for someone who just completed 24 F1 races whilst mounting the sport’s greatest championship comeback attempt.
