Verstappen set to change car? The possible GT3 Swap

Max Verstappen continues to surprise fans not only in Formula 1 but also in the world of GT3 racing. Between F1 weekends, the Dutch driver has shown his passion for endurance racing, taking the wheel of the Ferrari 296 GT3 for Emil Frey Racing at the legendary Nordschleife.

The goal? Most likely to compete in the 2026 24 Hours of Nürburgring. A plan that has already received the green light from Red Bull. This year, Verstappen raced at the Nürburgring twice: first to obtain his GT3 license, then behind the wheel of the Ferrari, with which he claimed victory at the Barbarossa Preis less than a month ago. Interestingly, Ferrari itself celebrated the win on its official website, signaling pride in the Dutchman’s achievement. But what does it mean to race for Red Bull in F1 and win with Ferrari in GT3?

Rumors and the possibility of a Verstappen car switch

The question arises because, according to rumors and tracking data from Flightradar.com, Verstappen recently landed in Stuttgart, Germany, reportedly to visit the Porsche factory.

And here’s the hot topic: could the Dutch champion really switch from the Ferrari 296 GT3 to the Porsche 992 GT3?
In his few public statements, Verstappen hasn’t revealed the reasons for his visit, nor which car his team will run in 2026. Still, if his goal remains the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, a move to Porsche appears to be a real possibility.

Why the Ferrari 296 GT3?

One thing is certain: Verstappen chose the Ferrari 296 GT3 over the Aston Martin Vantage, mainly for the driving feel.

An interesting choice, considering that Aston Martin is linked to the Red Bull world through Adrian Newey, who, while not part of the F1 project, contributed to the development of the Valkyrie, later transformed into an Hypercar for the WEC championship.

So, should we entertain this hypothesis? Only time will tell what the future holds, but one thing is certain: we wouldn’t mind seeing Verstappen’s Ferrari 296 roar again around the Nordschleife.
And if it manages to claim victory in the most-watched GT3 endurance event in the world, it would be the cherry on top of an already fascinating story.