Fresh from the thrill of the Nürburgring Max Verstappen electrified the motorsport world with a surprise outing at Fuji Speedway, stepping into a Red Bull‑liveried Nissan Z GT500 ahead of Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
The four‑time world champion traded his familiar 2026‑spec F1 car for the high‑horsed 2.0‑litre turbocharged inline‑four that propels one of SUPER GT’s apex machinery, laying down a series of eye‑catching laps in tricky, rain‑soaked conditions.
The outing which took place over several laps on a wet Fuji configuration was reportedly organised as part of a broader Red Bull promotional campaign, rather than a formal performance evaluation session.
Verstappen spent the day adjusting to the characteristics of the Nissan Z GT500, a top‑tier Super GT machinery powered by a 2.0‑litre inline‑four engine that produces roughly 550 horsepower and is built to race door‑to‑door with rivals such as the Toyota GR Supra and Honda NSX‑GT.
With no official lap times released, the focus of Verstappen’s test remained less on split‑second gains and more on showcasing his adaptability across categories while also reinforcing Red Bull’s long‑standing ties with Japanese motorsport.
Photographs and social‑media clips circulating from the test show him probing the limits of the car’s rear stability, often standing on the throttle a fraction later than many GT professionals might dare in the conditions, yet still maintaining a composed line through Fuji’s demanding Esses and Dunlop Corner complex.
The latest appearance in a Japanese touring‑style car is not Verstappen’s first foray into Super GT‑spec machinery. Back in 2022, he sampled a previous‑generation Honda NSX‑GT during Honda’s annual “Thanks Day” event.
Red Bull’s presence at Fuji Speedway with both Nissan and Honda‑badged GT machinery is especially meaningful given the company’s long history in Japanese single‑seater and sports‑car racing.
The energy‑drink brand has previously supported the Mugen‑Honda partnership in Japan’s premier open‑wheel category, Super Formula, and has also funneled its junior drivers into the same ecosystem.
Current Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson is one of the most recent graduates of this pipeline, having cut his teeth in Super Formula before stepping into Formula 1.
Just days before the Nissan Super GT test at Fuji, Max Verstappen raced a Mercedes‑AMG GT3 to NLS2 victory at the Nürburgring Nordschleife alongside team-mates Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella.
Although the trio was later disqualified from the result due to a tyre‑infringement issue, the experience itself further illustrates the Dutchman’s willingness to engage with different forms of endurance and GT racing.
Heading to the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, Verstappen currently sits eighth in the drivers’ championship with just eight points, while Red Bull holds sixth place in the teams’ standings after a challenging start to the year in Australia and China.
The 28-year old suffered a disappointing retirement at the Chinese GP and will be aiming to rebound in Suzuka where he comfortably won in 2025.
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