Max Verstappen rules out F1 entry for his own racing team

Max Verstappen has closed the door on bringing Verstappen Racing to the Formula 1 grid, confirming his squad will chase success in endurance and GT racing instead. The four-time world champion launched the team in 2022 and has since entered it into GT3 competition, even driving himself at events like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Though he has major long-term ambitions for the outfit, he sees no place for it in F1.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's stance settles any speculation that his personal team might eventually follow the Andretti or Cadillac route onto the grand prix grid. As one of the sport's most dominant drivers, his refusal to pursue F1 ownership—even after his driving days are over—highlights the extreme demands of running a modern grand prix operation and offers a clear glimpse into how he plans to stay in motorsport without being consumed by it.

The details:

• Winning mentality: Speaking to Formule 1 Magazine, Verstappen insisted the team exists to fight at the front, not merely to participate. "We’re not going to compete just because it’s fun to race. We want to be at the front, win races, and consistently compete at the front," he said.
• Endurance direction: He identified endurance racing as the clear path for expansion, explicitly stating the team would not move toward Formula 1 or anything similar.
• No outsourcing: Verstappen argued that running an F1 team would keep him on the road for 24 races a year or force him to manage remotely. "I’m not the type of person who can lie on a beach for five races without knowing what’s going on with my team," he added.
• Hands-on approach: He stressed that a committed owner needs to be present in person, and the stress of being away from the team would be too much to enjoy.

What's next:

With his full attention still on Red Bull and the 2026 F1 season, Verstappen Racing will continue developing its GT3 program while laying the groundwork for a future endurance assault. Whenever Verstappen does hang up his helmet, his own team gives him a ready-made platform to remain in racing—just not on the Formula 1 stage.