'I love watching the races': Verstappen doubles down on Supercars appeal
Max Verstappen keeps an eye on Supercars, labelling it a “great series"
F1 star Verstappen drove a Supercar for the first time earlier this year
2026 F1 season gets underway in Melbourne on Friday
Despite a busy Formula 1 schedule, Max Verstappen keeps an eye on Supercars, labelling it a “great series.”
Supercars is racing on the world stage at this weekend’s Formula 1 QATAR AIRWAYS Australian Grand Prix, where Verstappen kicks off his 2026 campaign.
Verstappen raised eyebrows earlier this year when he teased interest in contesting the Bathurst 1000, before driving a Supercar for the first time. Later, Jamie Whincup insisted he wants to get Verstappen to tackle the Great Race.
Speaking with media on Thursday, Verstappen doubled down on his admiration for the championship, expressing interest in future starts at Mount Panorama in Supercars or GT3.
Before this year, Verstappen had had multiple brushes with Supercars, riding shotgun with Whincup at Albert Park in 2019, while also striking up a friendship with Shane van Gisbergen.
“Honestly, I love watching the races anyway. I’ve had friends of mine of course compete in it. It’s a great series. A lot of great drivers,” the four-time world champion said.
“It’s very different for me of course to drive as well, to how I grew up racing. Less downforce related.
“But at the same time, of course experiencing with GT3 racing as well and that’s something that I enjoy a lot.”
On Bathurst, he added: "Who knows? I mean, I don’t think I’m too old yet for it anyway. I like Bathurst. It’s an amazing track and a place that I definitely would like to race at.
“If that’s going to be in GT3 or V8 I don’t know yet, but for sure that would be something really cool.”
On his own 2026 campaign, Verstappen suggested he has “no idea” where his Red Bull team lies, with F1 on track from Friday.
“I’m very happy with what we did in pre-season,” the Dutchman said.
“It’s been, I think, a really great and proud moment for everyone how the whole project came together, between the engine and the car. I was really positively surprised with how basically everything felt.
“Also the rule changes have been really complex, I think, for everyone, but in terms of the feeling in the car, driving experience between the engine in the car was good. Of course, I’ve had my say on the other things that I didn’t like."
Supercars' Friday race in Melbourne commences at 5:30pm local time.
