Verstappen races at Fuji before the F1 Japanese GP

ByDavid Mitchell
Verstappen races at Fuji before the F1 Japanese GP

The Red Bull star participated in a promotional for the drinks company prior to the F1 race.

Max Verstappen can’t be still. Two days from Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix in Suzukathe four-time champion appeared in Fuji piloting a Nissan Z NISMO GT500 under a flood, in a promotional session for Red Bull Japan that made social networks explode.

The images went viral in minutes: Verstappen leaving the pits with a Nissan in the colors of Red Bullattacking the wet track with one of the fastest cars in the Japanese Super GT championship. The car has a 2.0-liter turbo engine with four inline cylinders and around 550 horsepower.

For dimensionality: In the dry, a GT500 is up to 12 seconds per lap faster than the Mercedes-AMG GT3 that Max drove at the Nürburgring last weekend. Twelve seconds. Another category.

His team quickly clarified it to Motorsport.com: it was a promotional activity. Spot. There are no plans to race in Super GT or anything like that.

It is the second time that Verstappen tests machinery in this category. The first was in 2022 with the Honda NSX-GT during “Honda Thanks Day”, when Red Bull and Honda were still partners in F1.

The elephant in the room: his Formula 1 season is far from what was expected. Verstappen arrives in Japan outside the top of the championship after two difficult dates. Red Bull also does not find its way in this new technical cycle. Suzuka is familiar territory. It’s one of the circuits where Max has historically been lethal, and he needs to start reversing the trend.

The question is no longer whether Verstappen has the talent to dominate different categories of motor sport. The question is how much longer Red Bull can keep him in F1 if the “fun” that Max likes so much seems to be in another type of car.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.