Verstappen Targets 2027 Spa 24 Hours Drive as Team Races This Weekend

Max Verstappen is dividing his attention between the Austrian Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, where his Verstappen Racing squad is fielding a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in Red Bull colors. While the four-time champion cannot compete himself due to the Formula 1 calendar clash, he has already made his intentions clear for next year, asking organizers to schedule the 2027 race away from an F1 weekend so he can take the wheel himself.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's determination to secure a drive at Spa reflects a deepening commitment to endurance racing rather than a passing interest. For a driver still locked in a front-running F1 seat, actively lobbying to race in a 24-hour GT3 event at his favorite circuit underlines a genuine ambition to build a cross-discipline legacy beyond the grand prix paddock.

The details:

• The Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, shared by Daniel Juncadella, Chris Lulham, and Jules Gounon, qualified seventh in Thursday's combined session at Spa.
• Verstappen admitted he was watching practice and qualifying on his phone shortly before his written media session in Spielberg began.
• He has already told GT World Challenge Europe organizers that a 2027 date outside the F1 calendar would be ideal, calling Spa his favorite track and praising the GT3-only format as something "very special."
• When jokingly asked if he could simply skip a grand prix to compete, Verstappen quipped that Red Bull would not approve of the idea.

What's next:

Verstappen's sportscar ambitions are accelerating. Beyond his push for a 2027 Spa entry, he wants to return to the Nurburgring 24 Hours and has expressed interest in tackling the Daytona 24 Hours in a GT car if off-season timing permits. With Le Mans also lingering on his long-term radar, securing a clear weekend next year would give the Dutchman a shot at one of the few major races still missing from his resume.