Verstappen Racing Signs Multi-Year Mercedes-AMG Deal
Max Verstappen
Image Credit: Formula1
Verstappen Racing has announced a multi-year deal with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport ahead of the 2026 GT3 season. This marks a big change for the racing team started by Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. The deal makes the team a complete Mercedes-AMG customer entry in GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, which includes both the Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup campaigns.
Starting in 2026, Verstappen Racing will convert to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 platform as part of the new partnership. 2 Seas Motorsport, a well-known GT racing team that has used Mercedes-AMG cars in several championships, will help run the initiative. The partnership is seen as a strategic alignment aimed at long-term competitiveness in one of the world’s most competitive GT3 series.
Mercedes-AMG Motorsport welcomed the announcement, describing the project as ambitious and well-structured. Customer Racing leadership highlighted the value of combining Verstappen Racing’s competitive vision with 2 Seas Motorsport’s operational experience, noting that the entry strengthens the overall quality of the GT World Challenge Europe field across both sprint and endurance formats.
For the Sprint Cup campaign, Chris Lulham will continue with Verstappen Racing for a second consecutive season. He will be joined in 2026 by Daniel Juncadella, a driver with extensive GT3 experience and a long-standing association with Mercedes-AMG. The pairing will contest all five Sprint Cup rounds, which are staged at several of Europe’s most established circuits, with race operations managed by 2 Seas Motorsport.
Lulham described the switch to Mercedes-AMG as a meaningful step in his development, pointing to the experience gained during his first GT3 season and the opportunity to work alongside a seasoned teammate. He noted that the combination of a new car, a new partnership, and expanded technical support represents a significant progression for the program heading into 2026.
Juncadella also expressed confidence in the structure of the project, referencing both the competitive potential of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the influence of Max Verstappen’s involvement behind the scenes. The Spaniard emphasized that the driver pairing, combined with factory backing and an established team, creates a foundation designed for immediate competitiveness rather than long-term experimentation.
Beyond sprint racing, Verstappen Racing will also enter the full GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in 2026. Lulham and Juncadella will be joined by Mercedes-AMG Performance driver Jules Gounon for the five endurance rounds. The schedule includes the 24 Hours of Spa, widely regarded as one of the most demanding endurance races in global GT racing.
Gounon, who has years of experience with Mercedes-AMG across endurance and GT competition, described the programme as well-balanced. He pointed to continuity within the Mercedes-AMG ecosystem, combined with Verstappen Racing’s growing presence in GT racing, as factors that could allow the team to be competitive from its first season in the new configuration.
As motorsport fans keep up with news from a variety of fields, from the standings in the Formula 1 season championship to the broadcast of major football leagues on weekends, this announcement comes at a good time. Major motorsport announcements often happen at the same time as big sports events, including Thanksgiving NFL games and Rugby Results Analysis from the Autumn Internationals. This shows how sports coverage across the world is becoming more intertwined.
In late November, fans often turn their attention to things like the Packers vs. Lions Thanksgiving game preview or talks about what might happen in the Chiefs vs. Cowboys Thanksgiving 2025 prediction scenarios. But motorsport teams are still making plans for the long term, even when there aren’t any big events happening. Interest in where to watch the Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game in the UK is another example of how people from other countries now follow more than one sport at the same time.
Long-term planning is especially important in motorsports since rules, manufacturer tactics, and driver markets change years in advance. The Verstappen Racing and Mercedes-AMG deal is an example of this method, since it aligns technological resources, driver experience, and operational skills long before the 2026 season. Like in wider talks about the F1 season, stability and strategic relationships are becoming more important for long-term success.
The partnership also shows that Mercedes-AMG is still committed to investing in customer racing programs, even while factory-backed initiatives in other racing categories are facing changing economic and legal challenges. Both sides get more predictable growth and competitiveness planning by getting a commitment for several years.
Verstappen Racing’s transfer to Mercedes-AMG is a clear indicator that they want to compete at the top level of GT3 racing as they get ready for the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season. The program is moving on to its next phase with clear goals and a framework that will help it perform well over the long run. It has an experienced driver lineup, factory support, and a trusted operational partner.
This content was adapted from an article in Racingnews365
