Max Verstappen will climb into a Mercedes‑AMG GT3 for the GT World Challenge Europe finale at Portimão on Oct. 17, sharing driving duties with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat.
Filling the void: Rossi, Juncadella, and Gounon
The seat opened because Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon were committed to the WEC round the same week, while Valentino Rossi will be on the grid in a WRT‑run BMW.
Why a static rig beats motion in Verstappen’s view
Speaking on Team Redline’s YouTube channel, the Dutchman said a motion platform slows him down: “I drive at home on a static rig because it’s faster … if you want to simulate real life, buy motion, but it’s not necessary now.”
His home rig: precision and power
At a Monaco studio he layers a Simucube Active Pedals unit with a Precision Sim Engineering LM‑X wheel. The wheel is governed by a Leo Bodnar SimSteering2 Ultimate, and a custom Recaro Podium seat nests three 32‑inch Samsung Odyssey G7 curved monitors. Together the array costs roughly $25‑35 thousand, the car’s trophy edge waiting nearby.
On‑the‑tarmac readiness and sim software
Team Redline mounts a portable Sim‑Lab P1‑X cockpit in a motorhome, with other mobile setups aboard a yacht. Verstappen normally trains on iRacing, joining the engine behind the GameCloud events that the same company hosts.
From virtual speed to in‑race reality
Verbend expresses that the ultimate goal is to turn a top‑tier sim driver into a professional road‑racing performer who can live from the sport over time. He said he sees the GT World Challenge as the next step to prove a sim‑to‑real pathway.
The high‑profile showdown of Verstappen versus Rossi comes on the back of an already de‑tuned Ferrari at Spa 2026, underscoring the layered nature of modern motorsport, where a single weekend can spit out new headlines.
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