24/12/2025

Max Verstappen’s team switches to Mercedes for 2026 GT campaign

The sportscar team run by four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has inked a multi-year deal with Mercedes-AMG from 2026.

Verstappen Racing will compete in both legs of GT World Challenge Europe as part of the partnership, racing a single Mercedes-AMG GT3 in each category.

In GTWCE’s Sprint Cup, sim racing driver Chris Lulham will return for a second season, teaming up with Genesis’ Hypercar signing Daniel Juncadella.

As was the case in 2025, the team will be operated by 2 Seas Motorsport, an Anglo-Bahraini squad run by Verstappen’s close friend Nick Cristofaro.

Lulham and Juncadella will also spearhead Verstappen Racing’s Endurance Cup programme, where they will be joined by Mercedes factory driver Jules Gounon in a three-driver crew.

The switch to Mercedes machinery follows Verstappen testing an AMG GT3 himself in a private setting at Estoril earlier this month.

This year, his team raced an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the Sprint Cup, while supporting Lulham in a Ferrari 296 GT3 entered by Emil Frey in the Endurance Cup.

#31 Emil Fray Racing Ferrari 296 GT3: Max Verstappen, Christopher Lulham

Photo by: Jan Brucke/VLN

“We are delighted that Verstappen Racing has chosen to compete in the GT World Challenge Europe with a Mercedes-AMG GT3,” said Mercedes customer racing head Stefan Wendl.

“The project is supported by 2 Seas Motorsport, a very experienced team that has already achieved numerous successes and championship titles with our car.

“We are therefore very pleased with this extremely ambitious and promising project, with top-level participation in both the Sprint and Endurance programs of the GT World Challenge Europe.”

Verstappen is understood to be eyeing an entry into the Nurburgring 24 Hours as a driver next year, with established Mercedes GT squad Winward understood to be his primary choice for the Eifel classic.

The 28-year-old won on his debut NLS outing in September, racing Emil Frey’s Ferrari 296 GT3 with Lulham.

Wednesday’s announcement made no mention of his protege Thierry Vermeulen, who has been carrying Verstappen Racing’s colours in the DTM for the last three years.