Max Verstappen will swap his Red Bull for a Mercedes-AMG GT3 again, with the four-time champion confirming he will take part in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup round at Portimao on Saturday 17 October.
RacingNews365 had already reported that Verstappen was planning to enter the three-hour race in Portugal, and the Dutchman has now confirmed it himself while in Malaysia.
Unlike his appearance at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, which was more of a luxury outing, this one has become something of a necessity for Verstappen Racing.
The Portimão race is the season finale of the GTWCE Endurance Cup, a championship that runs alongside a separate Sprint Cup with shorter races. Verstappen Racing is entered once again, but the team has run into a significant staffing problem.
Chris Lulham, the team's regular protege driver, is available as usual. But Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, who normally complete the trio alongside Lulham in the Endurance Cup, both have clashing commitments in the World Endurance Championship that weekend.
Juncadella is due to drive the #19 Genesis in the Hypercar class, while Gounon is racing the #36 Alpine in the same category. The WEC round takes place in Barcelona that weekend, a race added to the calendar after unrest in the Middle East forced the cancellation of the events in Qatar and Bahrain.
To avoid a direct clash and allow drivers in Juncadella and Gounon's position to combine both commitments, the GTWCE race was moved forward by a day to Saturday. Even so, the WEC remains the priority for both drivers.
Verstappen steps in alongside Lulham
That left Verstappen Racing with only one confirmed driver on its entry, despite GT3 regulations requiring three drivers for the Endurance rounds of the championship.
The solution was straightforward: Verstappen himself will line up alongside Lulham, with no Formula 1 commitments that weekend to get in the way.
"I know that two of my drivers won't be part of the line-up, so two other drivers need to step in," Verstappen told media including RacingNews365.
"I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a busy seven weeks, but we'll do it, and I enjoy it anyway. Let's see what we can do there."
Who will join Verstappen and Lulham for the third seat remains unclear. Five-time IndyCar champion Álex Palou has repeatedly been linked with the drive.
Palou already has experience in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, having competed in the GT World Challenge America race at Indianapolis in 2024, an eight-hour event he is entered for again this weekend, sharing the car with Dutchman Lin Hodenius and Luca Stolz.
Palou's involvement in that Indianapolis race has fuelled speculation about a Portimão appearance, given he would arrive with fresh experience in the car that could strengthen Verstappen Racing's effort.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 is by now a familiar machine for Verstappen, who has driven it several times this year in races at the Nürburgring, including the 24-hour race.
He was on course for outright victory there alongside Gounon, Juncadella and Lucas Auer before a driveshaft problem ended their challenge.
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding as they look back on the Azerbaijan GP but also look ahead to F1's return this weekend to Malaysia! Rumours linking Christian Horner with a return to the sport is a major talking point.
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