Red Bull allows Verstappen to make his GT3 race debut in 2025.

      "If you want to see Max smile, just bring up GT."

      Max Verstappen is poised to achieve the uncommon accomplishment of competing in two distinct professional racing series in 2025. The last driver to accomplish this was two-time champion Fernando Alonso in 2017, who opted out of the Monaco GP while racing for the struggling McLaren team to participate in the legendary Indy 500. Currently, amid swirling rumors of a performance-related exit clause, Verstappen seems to have persuaded Red Bull to allow him to drive a GT3 car later this year. The four-time world champion disclosed in Barcelona that he has applied to the FIA for a sports car classification and has been awarded the top-tier "Platinum" status. Recently, he notably tested a Ferrari GT3 car branded with Verstappen.com Racing around the challenging Nordschleife track, reportedly breaking the lap record. Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko confirmed in Barcelona that the team is permitting the Dutch driver to compete later in 2025. "If you want to make Max smile, you have to talk about GT," he stated to ORF. "There are calendar gaps in the autumn, and I believe Max has already taken a close look at that." After previously forbidding Verstappen from even skiing in the winter, Marko justified the choice to allow the 27-year-old to actually race in another category. "A GT car is relatively slow," said the Austrian. "I'm just concerned that if he really participates in a race, everyone will showcase their skills, which could complicate things for Max."