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 GT racing with the new Mercedes Amg GT3. 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. 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 Mercedes-Benz factory.

And here’s the hot topic: could the Dutch champion really switch from the Ferrari 296 GT3 to the Mercedes AMG 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 Mercedes appears to be a real possibility.

The Mercedes AMG GT3 test ad Estoril

Max Verstappen never stands still.
Just over two weeks after the end of the Formula 1 season, the Dutch driver was spotted in Portugal. There he completed a full day of testing at the Estoril circuit.

Verstappen was at the wheel of what could become his team’s new car: the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from Affalterbach. The town where Stuttgart’s most high-performance cars are built. Each car is hand-assembled and, before leaving the factory, is signed off and inspected by an engineer who leaves their name on the engine’s cylinder head.

The car tested by Verstappen was also run in wet conditions, as shown by several videos circulating online. A comprehensive 360-degree test, aimed at evaluating the full potential of what could become the team’s new weapon for the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The test also highlights a significant technical shift in philosophy, with a move away from the Ferrari 296 GT3’s V6 engine to the Mercedes-AMG s naturally aspirated V8.

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.