Will we see Max Verstappen back in a GT car before the end of the year? Although the four-time world champion has not confirmed anything yet, he is said to be a candidate to get behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 again for the season finale of the GT World Challenge in Portimão. The reason for the possible substitution is a scheduling conflict of regular drivers Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella.
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Last May, Max Verstappen swapped his RB22 for a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Although the adventure ended for the four-time world champion with a late retirement due to a technical issue, it left him wanting more. Earlier, he already shared his ambitions to participate in the 24 Hours of Spa, but according to several sources, Verstappen is already thinking about an earlier return to GT racing.
‘Fortunately, the reserve driver can step in’
The Dutchman is reportedly set to compete in Portimão for the season finale of the GT World Challenge. This takes place on the weekend of October 16 to 18. Verstappen would then step in due to a clash with the WEC (World Endurance Championship), which makes regular drivers Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella unavailable. However, he has not confirmed anything yet in Monza.
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“There is a calendar conflict with the WEC, which means I lose two of my drivers on the GT side,” Verstappen tells the media in Monza. “At the moment, we are still looking at who the best replacements would be. Fortunately, the team’s reserve driver can possibly step in. We will see.” By reserve driver, the Dutchman would be referring to himself.
Mercedes has not yet confirmed Verstappen’s possible participation either. “On behalf of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, I can neither confirm that Verstappen will participate in the final round of the GT World Challenge in Portimão, nor that Gounon and Juncadella will miss the event,” a spokesperson says. “We are currently evaluating various scenarios to ensure that we can effectively participate in Portimão with our teams.”
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