- Stroll consulted Max Verstappen in Suzuka regarding his upcoming GT3 debut.
- Verstappen remains a key mentor due to his extensive GT3 racing experience.
- Aston Martin driver collaborated with Roberto Merhi for this opportunity.
Lance Stroll recently revealed that he sought guidance from Max Verstappen ahead of making his debut at the GT World Challenge powered by AWS at Circuit Paul Ricard this weekend. He mentioned that he had a word with the Dutch driver related to GT racing during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
Evidently, Verstappen is the right person to reach out to in F1 for advice, given his frequent exploration of other racing endeavours, including GT3 and simulator racing. He is also set to appear at the 24 Hours endurance race at Nürburgring in May. Recently, he also competed in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie, where his team initially dominated but was later disqualified due to a tyre blunder.
Stroll details Verstappen’s GT conversation
In an interview, Stroll revealed that he had a word with Verstappen about his GT debut amid the F1 break due to two Middle East race cancellations. He said, “We had a quick chat in Suzuka when the concept first occurred to me.”
He revealed the topics they touched upon during the conversation while expressing his enthusiasm for driving GT3 cars. “We covered contacts and connections, and given his GT racing involvement, we touched on it briefly. GT3 cars are genuinely enjoyable for everyone; they’re fantastic to drive,” he elaborated.
Earlier, the Aston Martin driver revealed how this opportunity came up to him, revealing that he had a conversation about it with former F1 driver Roberto Merhi at the dinner during the Japan GP weekend.
He added that they wanted to spend the F1 break productively. When the GT concept was brought up, he decided to give it a shot. Reflecting on his connection with Merhi, he said that they had known each other for a long time, sharing “engineering staff and industry connections.”
Verstappen’s way bigger ambitions beyond F1
Max Verstappen has been very vocal about his immense passion for racing, and he isn’t boxing himself in F1 but remains open to winning it all in other racing ventures. He won four F1 World Drivers’ Championships in a row and showcased the grit to keep his streak alive last year. His efforts ultimately fell short as Lando Norris snatched away the 2025 title by just two points. However, his comeback will for sure go down in the history books anyway.
In the current F1 racing scenario, where the rules have entirely changed, he has grown frustrated, given that the new regulations have become heavily focused on energy management. With F1 unable to give him the enjoyment he seeks, he isn’t abandoning his racing passion. He continues to explore other racing series that offer the adrenaline and excitement he craves.
During a conversation on the Team Redline (now Verstappen Sim Racing) YouTube channel, he was asked about what he prefers to win Le Mans in a hypercar or the Spa 24 in a GT car. He enthusiastically replied that he wants to emerge victorious in both.
He said, “It’s difficult to choose, but like, winning in a hypercar is really cool as well, but at the same time, like winning in a full GT3 field is also really cool.” Given he was asked to only pick one, he chose the Le Mans hypercar in the end. He also expressed his desire to win “The Nords [Nordschleife] 24″ GT race.
