Max Verstappen will make his return to GT3 racing at the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season finale in Portimao, taking advantage of a brief gap in the Formula 1 calendar to compete in Portugal.
The four-time F1 world champion will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered by 2 Seas Motorsport under the Verstappen Racing banner, marking his first appearance in SRO's prestigious GT World Challenge series.
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SubscribeThis surprise outing sets up a high-profile showdown on track against MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who competes in the same Pro category for BMW's factory-supported WRT team.
Verstappen's participation was made possible following a late calendar adjustment in the World Endurance Championship, which left full-season Verstappen Racing drivers Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella unavailable due to clashing commitments.
Verstappen Embraces Busy Stretch Ahead of Portimao
With the addition of the Portimao endurance event, Verstappen faces an intense sequence of seven consecutive race weekends stretching from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix through the Brazilian Grand Prix.
"It is going to be a busy seven weeks, but we will do it and I enjoy it anyway, so let us see what we can do there," Verstappen remarked regarding his packed autumn schedule.
The Dutch racing star has been increasingly dedicating his time to sportscar and GT racing endeavors alongside his dominant Formula 1 campaign with Red Bull Racing.
Looking beyond the current season, Verstappen has already outlined plans to return to the Nurburgring 24 Hours in 2027 and expand his sportscar portfolio to include the legendary Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours.