Verstappen Racing Announces Multi-Year Mercedes-AMG GT3 Partnership

Max Verstappen's eponymous racing team, Verstappen Racing, has secured a multi-year partnership with Mercedes-AMG to compete in the GT World Challenge Europe starting in 2026. The team will field a Mercedes-AMG GT3, marking a significant switch from its 2025 campaign where it utilized both Aston Martin and Ferrari machinery. This move consolidates their efforts under a single manufacturer for both the Sprint and Endurance cups.

Why it matters:

• The move signals the growing ambition of Verstappen's racing outfit, aligning it with a premier manufacturer for a focused assault on a major international series.
• Partnering with Mercedes-AMG provides access to proven, race-winning machinery and extensive factory support, which are crucial for competing at the highest level of GT racing.
• Consolidating under one manufacturer for both Sprint and Endurance series creates a more streamlined and potentially more competitive program compared to the previous multi-car approach.

The details:

• The team will campaign a single Mercedes-AMG GT3 across both the Sprint and Endurance categories of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe.
• The driver lineup for the Sprint series will feature Chris Lulham and Mercedes F1 simulator driver Daniel Juncadella.
• For the Endurance rounds, factory driver Jules Gounon will join Lulham, forming a three-driver lineup.
• The project will continue to be operated by the highly experienced 2 Seas Motorsport team, which has a successful history with Mercedes-AMG cars, including multiple championship titles.
• Mercedes-AMG customer racing boss Stefan Wendl welcomed the partnership, calling it an "extremely ambitious and promising project" and a "high-calibre entry."

What's next:

• Verstappen Racing and 2 Seas Motorsport will now begin their preparations for the 2026 season, including testing and development with the new Mercedes-AMG GT3 package.
• With a strong manufacturer and an experienced operational team behind them, the goal will be to challenge for race wins and the championship in a highly competitive GT3 field.
• This high-profile partnership further solidifies Max Verstappen's expanding influence and presence across multiple tiers of professional motorsport.