Max Verstappen delivers warning ahead of major change: 'You cannot hide anymore'

Max Verstappen has warned that his GT outfit, Verstappen.com Racing, "cannot hide anymore" as it prepares to field a Pro line-up and fight for overall race victories.

For 2026, the four-time world champion’s GT team is set to run a Pro line-up, which will see it compete in the top GT category of whichever championships it enters this year.

It represents a significant change for the operation, which has made major strides in GT racing in recent years. Verstappen has also been getting more involved on the driving side of things, having raced at the Nürburgring in 2025.

This year marks a period of change for Verstappen, with Formula 1 also introducing new power unit regulations. Red Bull faces the additional challenge of powering itself for the first time, having become an engine supplier.

There is much uncertainty over the performance of Red Bull’s 2026 car, although the four-time world champion is opting not to become stressed, with every team in a similar position.

Speaking on a Team Redline Twitch stream, Verstappen said: "For myself, I feel good. I’m still very relaxed because you can’t really know at the moment, of course, how competitive you’re going to be. So, yeah, we’ll see. I’m pretty chilled; I don’t stress too much because it’s bad for you, and it’s not going to change the result anyway.

"And besides that, yeah, I’m very excited, of course, about the GT3 project as well. I’m trying to invest a lot of time into really making it a success. Also, being a Pro line-up this year, you cannot hide anymore. You need to fight up front — that’s the target.

"But of course, with that comes a lot of preparation, which we are in the middle of. And yeah, just trying to keep improving every time we go out with the car. Besides that, of course, the sim racing programme — I’m very excited about that all the time anyway because it’s a big passion of mine.

"But at the same time, the guys know what they’re doing. They’re very solid, they’re very strong, and I know that wherever they participate, they’re giving it their very best. So that’s probably, I would say, the most secure part of it all."