Verstappen opens door to F1 exit to race in other series with application to FIA
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is interested in competing in other series amid uncertainty over his future with Red Bull and he's now moved closer to making it a reality
Max Verstappen has confirmed that he's taken steps towards racing outside of Formula 1. Verstappen, 27, has previously hinted at following in his dad Jos' footsteps by competing in other series.
That's despite the Dutchman being the dominant force in F1, winning the last four Drivers' Championships with Red Bull. But amid uncertainty over his contract situation and having recently become a father, his long-term future in the sport has come into the spotlight.
Now Verstappen has opened the door to competing in other racing events such as the World Endurance Championship and GT3. That's because Verstappen has successfully applied for a driver categorisation from the FIA.
As an active F1 driver, the Red Bull star was guaranteed at least a Platinum rating. Driver categorisation is crucial for any driver who wants to compete in GT or sports car racing.
Verstappen confirmed the news of his categorisation ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. "I applied," he told media in Barcelona.
"I have to do it at some point, so I better got it out of the way. I mean, it's super easy, it's just a form that you fill in and you pay and a week later you have the answer. I was secretly hoping for a Bronze rating; I might appeal the Platinum and get Silver at least!"
On the weekend between the this month's Grands Prix in Miami and Imola, Verstappen drove a Ferrari 488 GT3 at the Nurburgring Nordschleife during an open practice day. The 27-year-old claims that he recorded a time below the existing lap record, with this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours event taking place between the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix in June.
That could be convenient for Verstappen, although he'd need more than his Platinum rating. Drivers also must obtain a 'Ring Permit' which comes from racing around Nordschleife in other competitions within a specific time period.
For now, though, his focus is on victory in Spain - or at least maximising Red Bull's car. Currently third in the Drivers' Championship behind McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Verstappen is pessimistic about his chances of retaining the title for a fifth year, as his previously dominant team continue to struggle for consistency this year.
"For me, it doesn't really feel like a fight, to be honest," he admitted. "I just try to do my best, have a bit of fun out there. It's not like this season up until this point is going to be in my memory forever."
Verstappen, who's won every Spanish Grand Prix since 2022, later added: "It's not that I don't believe. I just walk up to the track and I do the best I can every single weekend. I don't need to believe in it fully or not.
"I know that every time that I go out there, I do the best I can. If that's with the car that is capable of P5, I will put it P5. If it's capable of winning, I'll win.
"I just approach it very simple, which also doesn't eat up a lot of energy as well. So I have a lot of free time outside of that. It's not like trying to grab [the championship]. I mean, you can try and grab it, but if you don't have the car, there's nothing to grab."
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