Max Verstappen’s participation outside of Formula 1 had a strong impact on Mercedes-AMG’s customer racing program. According to Stefan Wendl, head of the division, the arrival of Verstappen Racing and the Dutchman’s presence at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring also stimulated a renewed interest in GT racing.
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Verstappen’s team started using the Mercedes-AMG GT3 after competing with Aston Martin and Ferrari in 2025. For Wendl, the four-time world champion’s choice increased the visibility of the project and encouraged other manufacturers present at the Nordschleife to raise their efforts during the season.
“Max Verstappen competing with our Mercedes-AMG GT3 and his team’s switch to Mercedes-AMG Motorsport were also highlights. This brought additional attention to Mercedes-AMG’s customer racing program and caused growth in GT racing as a whole,” Wendl told GPblog.
Verstappen Racing did not complete the 24 Hours of Nürburgring due to a technical problem. Still, Mercedes-AMG ended a ten-year wait for the overall victory in the race, a result achieved by the RAVENOL team. “Celebrating this achievement made everyone in Affalterbach extremely happy. At the same time, I am also pleased with the many other successes around the world, whether overall or class wins,” he emphasized.
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Wendl also praised the performance of customer teams in categories such as IMSA, DTM, WEC, NLS, GT World Challenge Europe, British GT, and Italian GT. The executive highlighted that the current Mercedes-AMG GT3, launched in 2016 and updated in 2020, remains competitive despite being one of the oldest platforms on the grid. Meanwhile, the manufacturer is working on the Evo model, based on the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series, although its homologation and debut in 2027 are not yet confirmed.
For the second half of the season, the main challenge will be managing calendar conflicts between the different championships. Mercedes-AMG leads the DTM and the Intercontinental GT Challenge, but overlapping rounds will prevent some drivers from competing in both competitions.
“Careful planning will be essential to maximize our opportunities in each championship,” explained Wendl. “Our goal is to remain in contention for as many overall and class titles as possible until the end of the season, making the most of every opportunity.”
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