MAX VERSTAPPEN CONFIRMS MASSIVE GT3 TEAM EXPANSION AND CAR SWAP FOR 2026 SEASON
Max Verstappen balances life as a new father with plans to move his GT3 team into the pro championship for 2026.
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Max Verstappen is more than just a Formula 1 driver. By 2025, he'd become a dad and a GT3 winner!
Red Bull's okay with him squeezing in as much racing as he can. It seems to help him stay sharp.
Verstappen's always been into sim racing. This year, he took it up a notch by racing in a GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup race at the Nurburgring.
Even though the 2026 F1 stuff will take up loads of his time, he's not giving up his hobby. He's got big plans.
Verstappen said Red Bull’s new engine sounded crisp when he first heard it. They're making their own engines for the first time next year.
Oliver Minzlaff laughed off Verstappen's claim that he pulls strings behind the scenes. He said that's not how they work.
Max Verstappen is planning bigger and better GT3 racing for 2026. He wants to team up with Fernando Alonso at Le Mans, if he ever gets the chance.
Right now, that's not on the cards. But he can still do the GT3 racing he's allowed to. He just told the Talking Bull Podcast that his plans are bigger and better in 2026.
Yeah, it’s getting serious, he said. We entered this year, but not as a pro car; we were in the Gold Cup.
One of the drivers came from sim racing, so putting him straight into the pro car championship was maybe too much.
But, we always compared ourselves with the pro cars, lap time-wise—that’s what we were aiming for.
We won the gold cup championship, which is just below the pro cars. "That was our target at the start of the year," Verstappen continued.
The drivers got better during the year and got a better grip on how to deal with car problems and balance.
Figuring out how to go faster and get the most out of qualifying and races. Next year, we want to be in the pro championship. We’re swapping cars, but I can't say which one yet. You'll find out soon. It’s getting bigger.
How good is Max Verstappen at GT3 cars?
Verstappen’s GT3 debut was kind of amazing. One of his best skills was weaving through traffic without a problem.
It's very different from F1, but he took to it well.
His sim racing helped, and winning at the Nürburgring probably made him even more keen.
With another 24 F1 races in 2026, Verstappen won't have much time for GT3 racing. But he's not dropping it anytime soon.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
