Max Verstappen is not just focusing on Formula 1 in 2026. The four-time world champion has committed to a substantial GT3 programme alongside his Red Bull duties, competing in select rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) and the prestigious 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May.
Saturday saw Verstappen compete in his second NLS round, driving a Mercedes GT3 with support from Winward Racing. Victory was claimed by 59 seconds, before being disqualified post-race for using too many sets of tyres.
The NLS calendar was even adjusted to accommodate his participation, with the second round moved from March 28 to March 21 to fit within the gap between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.
The Dutchman made his GT3 debut last September at the Nordschleife, winning a four-hour endurance race in a Ferrari 296 GT3 on his first attempt. His passion for racing beyond F1 is clear, particularly given his vocal criticism of the 2026 regulations, which he has labelled "a joke" and "Formula E on steroids."
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has given his full backing to Verstappen's GT racing. When asked how much convincing was needed to approve the Nürburgring 24 Hours entry, Mekies told media including RacingNews365: "He doesn't need to convince us, really. It's enough to speak for a few minutes with Max, and you see his face light up, his eyes light up when he talks about racing cars—and it doesn't matter what type of cars."
Red Bull has endured a difficult start to 2026, accumulating just 12 points from the opening two races, their lowest two-race total since 2015. Verstappen retired from the Chinese GP with an ERS coolant fault and finished only sixth in Australia.
Despite his frustrations with the new F1 cars, Mekies insists Verstappen's commitment remains unwavering. "I have no doubts about his motivation. His way of working with us and his commitment to improvements is the same as last season," the team principal stated.
The question now is whether Verstappen's GT3 programme serves as a motivational outlet that keeps his competitive fire burning, or whether it represents an unwelcome distraction during a challenging season for Red Bull.
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