Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen‘s Mercedes-AMG GT3 test unfolded at Portugal’s iconic Circuito do Estoril, just days after conclusion of the grueling 2025 F1 season.
The unexpected test session, conducted under rainy conditions on December 15, 2025, marked a significant moment for the Dutchman’s burgeoning GT racing endeavors as his participation in 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours remains unknown.
The event unfolded as a private shakedown run organized by British-Bahraini outfit 2 Seas Motorsport that provided technical support for Verstappen.com Racing’s successful Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo program in 2025.
Led by Verstappen’s close friend Nick Cristofaro, the team had already proven its mettle in 2025 by supporting the team’s Aston Martin entries, which secured victories like the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in the Gold Cup class and overall Sprint Cup dominance with a Ferrari 296 GT3.
Endurance-Info first broke the news of the session, revealing that 2 Seas Motorsport had two Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars on track, both adorned in Red Bull-inspired colors and carrying numbers 33 and 333, with Verstappen sharing duties alongside Mercedes-AMG factory driver Jules Gounon, a multiple GT World Challenge Sprint Cup champion.
The day began under overcast skies that soon gave way to persistent rain, transforming the 4.182km Estoril layout—famous for its high-speed straights, tight technical sectors, and elevation changes—into a slippery challenge that tested tire management, braking precision, and throttle control far removed from the razor-sharp responses of an F1 car.
Verstappen, clad in his signature black firesuit, methodically progressed through installation laps before pushing the limits with video footage showing him extracting impressive rotation through the Parabolica do Sol and maintaining composure into the demanding final corner.
It is reported that 2 Seas Motorsport will make a shift from Aston Martin to Mercedes-AMG machinery ahead of the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe campaign.
The switch to Mercedes appears driven by the reliability of the HWA-developed GT3 Evo, preferred by Verstappen’s protégé and recent Nordschleife teammate Chris Lulham over the Ferrari 296 used in their September NLS triumph.
The duo clinched the ADAC Barbarossapreis at the Nordschleife with Emil Frey Racing’s Ferrari 296 GT3, a victory that whetted Verstappen’s appetite for more endurance challenges.
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The broader implications of Max Verstappen’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 test at Estoril extend far beyond a one-day shakedown, positioning Verstappen.com Racing for a transformative 2026 season amid whispers of a Pro class assault in GT World Challenge Europe.
Speculation mounts that the lineup could feature Gounon, Lulham, and ex-AMG ace Dani Juncadella, blending youth, experience, and Verstappen’s occasional wildcard entries to challenge factory efforts from outfits like Akkodis ASP or Winward Racing.
However, the Dutchman’s participation remains in the dark as all three NLS preparatory races and qualifiers for the 2026 Nurburgring 24 hours (14-17 May) clashes with an F1 weekend.
Additionally, the incoming 2026 Formula 1 regulations might require his full-time focus as he admitted during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.
“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,” he said. “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.”
