Lance Stroll to race in GT World Challenge Europe alongside Verstappen's team

Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will compete in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season opener at Circuit Paul Ricard, sharing an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with Mari Boya and Roberto Merhi. The race will feature a notable grid presence from Max Verstappen's own team, Verstappen.com Racing, which will field a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Pro class.

Why it matters:

This move highlights a growing trend of active F1 drivers seeking competitive racing outside the Formula 1 calendar to maintain sharpness and explore different disciplines. For Stroll, it's a return to his sports car roots and a chance to race for the Aston Martin brand in another flagship series. The simultaneous participation of Verstappen's team adds an intriguing layer of crossover between the F1 and GT racing worlds.

The details:

• Stroll will drive for the Comtoyou Racing team in the opening round of the Endurance Cup on April 12-13.
• His teammates are Aston Martin Aramco Driver Academy member Mari Boya and former F1 driver Roberto Merhi.
• In preparation, Stroll completed a test at the Nürburgring on Wednesday.
• Verstappen.com Racing will compete in the same event in the top-tier Pro class with drivers Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Chris Lulham.
• The event is expected to feature a massive grid of approximately sixty GT3 cars.

What's next:

The Paul Ricard event serves as the prologue to the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup season. Stroll's performance will be closely watched as an indicator of his adaptability and racecraft outside the Formula 1 bubble. While a one-off appearance for now, success could pave the way for more F1 drivers to participate in major GT events during breaks in the F1 calendar, further blurring the lines between single-seater and sports car racing.