Max Verstappen’s GT racing obsession has become increasingly evident as the four-time world champion describes how the discipline dominates his thoughts, often even affecting his sleep. The Red Bull driver, who just narrowly missed his fifth F1 crown in 2025, continues to ramp up his involvement in GT3 racing and sim racing this year, splitting his focus between premier single-seaters and endurance sports cars.
Earlier this season, Verstappen made his most significant move into GT3 machinery when he began testing under a pseudonym with a Porsche Cayman GT4, securing the required DMSB Permit Nordschleife license for the Nürburgring. Remarkably, just two weeks after receiving that qualification, he jumped into an Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 and, alongside sim racer Chris Lulham, clinched victory at the challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife on debut. This swift accomplishment underscores his adaptability and determination in new racing disciplines.
Verstappen openly shares how GT racing now preoccupies his mind, especially at night, suggesting just how deep the obsession runs.
“Most of the time it’s about what I can change to the GT car in terms of stuff that I want changed or optimized,” Verstappen said on the Talking Bull podcast (14:16 onwards). “F1, I have so many people behind me anyway in the team that I trust and they do their job very well. But of course, in the GT world, it’s a much smaller team. There’s still a lot of things that I also still need to understand better and learn. So I’ll do that in my sleep.”
This intensity continues after hours, with Verstappen describing moments when his passion forces him into late-night sim racing experimentation:
“Sometimes, I’m competing or whatever. I can wake up in the middle of the night with some ideas and I do need to test it. I cannot wait for it.”
When asked about putting these ideas into action, Verstappen was candid:
“Wake up and turn on the simulator,” before confirming he has done so at “3:00 a.m.”
Despite coming agonizingly close to another Formula 1 championship, Verstappen’s mind has clearly shifted towards the future of GT racing, where he sees unique challenges and opportunities that reignite his competitive drive.
Targeting the Professional GT3 Category After Immediate Success
Verstappen’s foray into the GT racing world during 2025 was meticulously planned, yielding quick results. After his debut win in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, his Verstappen.com Racing team went on to clinch the Gold Cup title in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. This achievement, earned with the collaboration of fellow drivers like Chris Lulham, positioned the team just below the elite Pro class, aligning with the group’s developmental goals.
“We won, of course, the Gold Cup championship. So that’s the one just below the pro cars, which I think was our target starting the year,” he said on the same podcast (12:12 onwards). “Throughout the year, the drivers made some nice steps forward. Really understanding also how to overcome difficulties with the car balance, understanding how to go faster and optimizing qualifying and race things.”
Now, Verstappen’s ambitions have evolved, with eyes firmly set on the top tier of GT racing in 2026. While the team outperformed expectations in 2025, the prospect of entering the Pro Championship commands fresh focus.
“Next year, of course, we want to be in the Pro Championship,” he said. “We’re changing cars. I cannot say which one yet. But you will find out soon. It’s getting bigger and better.”
The landscape of GT racing continues to shift for Verstappen. Not long after the close of the 2025 F1 season, he took part in a test at Estoril, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 under the banner of 2Seas Motorsport. He shared the experience with experienced factory driver Jules Gounon, fueling speculation that Verstappen.com Racing may partner with 2Seas Motorsport and switch from Aston Martin to Mercedes machinery for 2026. This team, known for guiding drivers like Chris Lulham and Thierry Vermeulen, already has strong links to Verstappen’s racing plans.
The inclusion of high-caliber names and proven race teams in Verstappen’s GT program signals the intent to chase maximum competition next year. By working alongside drivers and organizations with deep expertise in GT3 racing, Verstappen is building a structure capable of challenging established Pro teams at the front of the grid.
The Road Ahead: What Verstappen’s GT Pursuit Means for Motorsport
Max Verstappen’s GT racing obsession reflects a broader evolution within top-level motorsport, where even Formula 1 champions find new motivation and fulfillment in multi-disciplinary racing and sim-based development. With his relentless late-night pursuit of perfection—sometimes working through 3am simulator sessions—and a clear drive toward the GT3 Pro Championship, Verstappen is pushing boundaries for himself and the teams around him.
As the 2026 GT season approaches, Verstappen’s strategic switch to new machinery and collaboration with key drivers such as Jules Gounon, in renowned endurance events, suggest that Verstappen.com Racing could soon play a pivotal role in the series’ competitive landscape. His journey underscores how obsession can fuel adaptation, learning, and the quest for fresh victories, keeping the motorsport world anticipating what comes next from one of its most driven competitors.
