Verstappen Racing signs with Mercedes-AMG for GT3

M-technik-3 · 12-24-2025, 02:39 PM

https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...-mercedes-deal

Does this mean that Max will be leaving Red Bull in the coming year?

c1pher · 12-24-2025, 08:29 PM

Wow.

fs1977 · 12-25-2025, 08:23 AM

No. It means his own GT3 racing team will drive the AMG GT3 in 2026. Has nothing to do with his F1 career.

M-technik-3 · 12-25-2025, 01:02 PM

Seems like it will make PR Events a bit tough.

fs1977 · 12-26-2025, 07:41 AM

Why? His team drove Ferrari and Aston Martin in the different series this year. I'm not seeing the problem.

///M4Lou · 12-31-2025, 07:00 PM

Last time I checked Red Bull doesn't make a GT3 car..

tsk94 · 01-05-2026, 04:46 PM

No, but Ford does.

But seriously, I don't think it's that deep...

fs1977 · 01-06-2026, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk94

No, but Ford does.

The new Mustang GT3 could have been an option, but there are several reasons they have chosen Mercedes AMG. First of all, the AMG GT3 is a proven racecar and fairly easy to set up. The Mustang has had his difficulties since its debut 2 seasons ago.

Besides that, Ford doesn't have the same capacity for customer racing as Mercedes-AMG has, so Ford can't give the same support.

And last, driver choice. Juncadella and Gounon will also drive for the Verstappen team, they have AMG ties and are experienced. Because of that, they can compete in the (highest) Pro division. Drivers with Ford ties and of the same level weren't available.

tsk94 · 01-06-2026, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fs1977

The new Mustang GT3 could have been an option, but there are several reasons they have chosen Mercedes AMG. First of all, the AMG GT3 is a proven racecar and fairly easy to set up. The Mustang has had his difficulties since its debut 2 seasons ago.

Besides that, Ford doesn't have the same capacity for customer racing as Mercedes-AMG has, so Ford can't give the same support.

And last, driver choice. Juncadella and Gounon will also drive for the Verstappen team, they have AMG ties and are experienced. Because of that, they can compete in the (highest) Pro division. Drivers with Ford ties and of the same level weren't available.

Good insights! I don't follow that scene/series so I'm not in the know. I figured the support and competitiveness of the AMG platform had a lot to do with it.

dfox · 01-06-2026, 10:42 AM

Perhaps this was the reason behind their mid-season meetup in Italy. Toto is mostly F1 but looks like he has some ties to their GT3 program as well.

///M Power-Belgium · 01-06-2026, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfox

Perhaps this was the reason behind their mid-season meetup in Italy. Toto is mostly F1 but looks like he has some ties to their GT3 program as well.

This (!)

Robin_NL · 01-24-2026, 01:40 AM

Max' dad Jos has a new toy as well

The track is Meppen, just over the Dutch/German border and the current owner is an acquaintance of mine for over 20 years, we had some beers together

Cheers
Robin

12-24-2025, 02:39 PM	#1
M-technik-3 Colonel 3957 Rep 2,145 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: western Ma iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 M3 [9.33] 2007 E91 [8.17] 1988 M3 [9.60]	Verstappen Racing signs with Mercedes-AMG for GT3 https://racingnews365.com/max-versta...-mercedes-deal Does this mean that Max will be leaving Red Bull in the coming year?
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12-24-2025, 08:29 PM	#2
c1pher Primo Generalissimo 5553 Rep 4,489 Posts Drives: All of them Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: DC area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2025 Corvette Z06 [10.00] 2024 Ford Bronco Ra ... [10.00] 2018 Porsche 911 GTS [10.00] 2022 Ford F-250 Tremor [8.50]	Wow.
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12-25-2025, 08:23 AM	#3
fs1977 Second Lieutenant 602 Rep 273 Posts Drives: G21 M340i Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 G21 M340i [10.00]	No. It means his own GT3 racing team will drive the AMG GT3 in 2026. Has nothing to do with his F1 career.
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12-25-2025, 01:02 PM	#4
M-technik-3 Colonel 3957 Rep 2,145 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: western Ma iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 M3 [9.33] 2007 E91 [8.17] 1988 M3 [9.60]	Seems like it will make PR Events a bit tough.
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12-26-2025, 07:41 AM	#5
fs1977 Second Lieutenant 602 Rep 273 Posts Drives: G21 M340i Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 G21 M340i [10.00]	Why? His team drove Ferrari and Aston Martin in the different series this year. I'm not seeing the problem.
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12-31-2025, 07:00 PM	#6
///M4Lou Lieutenant Colonel 2286 Rep 1,765 Posts Drives: 24-x3m40i/23-m4c /24-x3mc/CSL Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: State of denial iTrader: (0)	Last time I checked Red Bull doesn't make a GT3 car..
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01-05-2026, 04:46 PM	#7
tsk94 Lieutenant Colonel 1720 Rep 1,715 Posts Drives: E92 M3, E82 128i, F82 M4, E36 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Calgary iTrader: (2)	No, but Ford does. But seriously, I don't think it's that deep...
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01-06-2026, 10:42 AM	#10
dfox Captain 2001 Rep 897 Posts Drives: E88 135i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: North of Seattle iTrader: (0)	Perhaps this was the reason behind their mid-season meetup in Italy. Toto is mostly F1 but looks like he has some ties to their GT3 program as well.
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01-24-2026, 01:40 AM	#12
Robin_NL S0THPAW 9397 Rep 7,897 Posts Drives: HS M2 Competition Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Max' dad Jos has a new toy as well The track is Meppen, just over the Dutch/German border and the current owner is an acquaintance of mine for over 20 years, we had some beers together Cheers Robin __________________ The worst crime that I ever did was playin' rock 'n' roll- Hugh Cornwell Last edited by Robin_NL; 01-24-2026 at 01:49 AM..
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