Verstappen urges Spa 24 Hours organisers to avoid F1 clash so he can race in 2027

Max Verstappen has called on the organisers of the Spa 24 Hours to avoid a clash with the Formula 1 calendar in 2027, telling them directly that he wants to race at one of his favourite circuits in the GT endurance classic.

Speaking ahead of his written media session at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, the four-time world champion said he had already raised the matter with GT World Challenge Europe. “I told them already for next year. It would be ideal if they could schedule it outside of a Formula 1 weekend, so let’s see,” Verstappen said.

This weekend’s Spa 24 Hours is running concurrently with the Austrian GP, preventing Verstappen from competing. He has previously said he would have been on the grid had the scheduling allowed it. Instead, he is following the race as a team owner: Verstappen Racing has entered a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in Red Bull colours, driven by Daniel Juncadella, Chris Lulham and Jules Gounon. The car qualified seventh in Thursday’s combined session, with Verstappen watching the timing screens on his phone shortly before his media commitments began.

“Yes, I’ll try to watch it as much as I can. The car is racing with our drivers, so I’m very much involved this weekend,” he said.

Verstappen’s enthusiasm for Spa goes beyond its place on the F1 calendar — he regards it as his favourite circuit outright. The all-GT3 format of the 24-hour race adds to its appeal. “Spa is an amazing track and a 24-hour race with only GT cars is something very special,” he said.

When it was put to him that he could theoretically skip a grand prix if he were out of title contention, Verstappen laughed off the suggestion: “I’m sure that Red Bull will not be very happy with that!”

The Spa ambition is part of a broader endurance racing programme Verstappen is building around his F1 schedule. He competed in last month’s Nurburgring 24 Hours and wants to return to the Nordschleife in 2026. Looking further ahead, he has also identified the Daytona 24 Hours as a target, provided the off-season window allows for a GT car entry, alongside a long-stated goal of racing at Le Mans.