Verstappen eyes Super GT but cites lack of marquee event as hurdle

Max Verstappen has expressed strong interest in racing in Japan's Super GT championship, following a recent test in a Nissan GT500 car, but the four-time F1 champion sees the series' lack of a standout 'blue riband' event as a major obstacle to a guest appearance.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's growing exploration of sports car racing, fueled partly by his dissatisfaction with current F1 machinery, highlights a potential shift in the career trajectory of the sport's biggest star. His public interest in Super GT brings significant global attention to the Japanese series, while his critique of its calendar structure touches on a long-standing debate about creating a flagship event to attract international stars.

The details:

• Verstappen tested a Nissan Z GT500 car at a wet Fuji Speedway last month, calling the experience "a lot of fun" and praising the car and category as "fantastic."
• He cited the format as a key hurdle, stating, "I wish they had a bit more of a standout one race, instead of just a championship." He believes committing to a single marquee event is easier than joining one random round of a championship.
• The series previously had such an event in the famed Suzuka 1000km, which acted as a gateway for stars like 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button to enter Super GT full-time.
• That pathway diminished after 2018 when the Suzuka 10 Hours, part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and not featuring GT500 cars, became the track's summer endurance highlight.
• One potential avenue remains: organizers have floated a wildcard GT500 entry for the 2026 Sepang round. This could theoretically fit Verstappen's schedule, but the project requires manufacturer support and is primarily aimed at promoting Malaysian talent.

What's next:

Verstappen's participation hinges on several factors, including the viability of the Sepang wildcard concept and his own long-term F1 future, about which he has hinted at making "life" decisions. Even if he remains in F1, his increased sports car racing activity makes a Super GT cameo a tantalizing possibility. The series' ongoing international expansion, with Sepang's successful return, may eventually create the kind of distinct, globally-focused event that could lure a driver of Verstappen's caliber for a one-off appearance.