Max Verstappen headed to the Estoril circuit in Portugal on Tuesday to drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3. The 2025 F1 Drivers’ Championship runner-up was testing with 2 Seas Motorsport, the team that fielded an Aston Martin in this year’s GT World Challenge Europe endurance series under the Verstappen.com Racing banner.
The Verstappen.com team will be driving the Mercedes-AMG GT3 next season, with Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella and Verstappen’s Nordschleife team partner Chris Lulham occupying the cockpit. Gounon also tested in Portugal, with Verstappen using the No. 3 throughout the day.
Since 2014, F1 drivers have been allowed to pick a race number to use throughout their careers. Verstappen chose the No. 33 when he made his F1 debut in 2015, but used the No. 1 between 2022 and 2025 after winning four F1 titles in a row. The No. 1 is reserved for the reigning champion, with Lando Norris able to use the number next year.
However, Verstappen hinted with his choice of number in Portugal that he would turn his back on the No. 33 and instead select the No. 3 when the new F1 season begins.
And the Dutchman explained in November: “I will look at it over the winter, but my favourite number is 3. We just need to see whether that is actually possible.”
He added: “I actually wanted No. 69, but my dad said, ‘That’s not a good idea.’ But that number always looks the same, no matter how you look at the car.
“No. 69 would be very good for the photos and marketing, and for the caps as well. It doesn’t matter how you wear them, it always stays No. 69. In that respect it would be a good marketing tool.”
Verstappen made his GT3 racing debut in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Series in September as he won the ninth round of the event alongside Lulham. And the 28-year-old has been tipped to appear in the Nurburgring 24 Hours next year.
But discussing his 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours plans at the Singapore Grand Prix in October, Verstappen explained: “It depends on F1 first of all, I’m suspecting that with the rules next year it’s going to be very complicated to start with, some unknowns anyway.
“It probably will be a little bit more hectic than the end of a regulation where things are a bit more straightforward. Plus, there’s also the programme of the GT3 team, which car we are going to race next year and stuff like that, so a lot of things that still have to come together before I can really plan it well in advance for just my drivers already in the team, plus myself.
“We want to be back there, I just don’t know at the moment how many races I can do next year, but if there is an opportunity and I feel good about it, plus whatever is happening in F1, then for sure.”
Source link
