Max Verstappen's 2026 GT3 programme depends on complexity of F1 regulations

Max Verstappen has his eye on competing in next year's Nurburgring 24 Hours as he now takes a break from any GT3 exploits for the rest of the year – but this will entirely depend on how complex Formula 1's 2026 regulations are.

Verstappen, along with friend and GT racer Chris Lulham, took victory in the ninth round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie last weekend, piloting an Emil Frey Racing-run Ferrari 296 GT3 car.

Max Verstappen wins on NLS GT3 debut

Given the intensity of the rest of the F1 season, and few opportunities to race in further rounds due to clashes, Verstappen says he will be taking a break from GT3 racing for the rest of the year – but hopes to do more next year.

The difficulty lies in the demands of the 2026 regulations. Verstappen expects the complexities with next year's car to require more time from the drivers to fully understand, while 2025 has been the fourth year in a relatively static ruleset.

He says that he will decide his schedule nearer the time, but certainly hopes to run in next year's Nurburgring 24 Hours.

"Yeah, it was a lot of fun, I've been preparing for that for a while," Verstappen said of his GT3 win. "It's just two very nice days, again racing a bit in the wet and the dry, just getting more and more experience.

#31 Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3: Max Verstappen, Chris Lulham

"Of course to win it, that's an extra bonus. But does it make me a better driver? I've been doing this already for so many years on the simulator, so for me doing it now in real life is not very different, but it definitely doesn't hurt, I think I can say that.

"[Next year] depends on a lot of things to be honest. 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."

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Verstappen says that even if he misses out on participating in more GT3 races next year he'll have plenty of opportunity to explore sportscar racing more deeply once he departs from F1.

He underlined that F1 was still his main focus, so felt he could not be too disappointed if there were too many calendar clashes.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

"F1 is still my main goal, it's a lot of races but that's what I signed up for, so for me that is not something that I'm upset about or disappointed about.

"I also know that it's not going to be forever doing this, so it's also just making sure that everything is well run with the GT3 team and that they are up and running, and then for me it's quite easy to, if I want to, jump in and participate.

"I think we all know that 24 races is a lot, sometimes you miss out on some other great races, but at the same time I'm still very young, so I can still catch up on those kind of races later on."

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