F1: Preparing for the Next Season, Max Verstappen Tests Mercedes with Numbers 33 and 333

Max Verstappen's private plane landed in Portugal, but not for a vacation. Instead, he was there for a special test with Mercedes.

The Dutch driver has been rumored to be moving from Red Bull Racing to Mercedes in 2027, but that's not why he went to Portugal and visited the Estoril Circuit.

At the iconic circuit, two Mercedes AMG GT3 units were waiting, bearing the numbers 33 and 333, and dressed in Red Bull Racing livery.

These cars are part of Verstappen's team, Verstappen.com, for the GT3 competition next year. Verstappen himself drove the number 33 car, while the number 333 car was driven by Mercedes AMG GT3 factory driver Jules Gounon.

The one-day test on Wednesday, December 16, 2025, was used by Verstappen to test the car in various areas, but unfortunately, the rain limited the test's potential.

As is known, the four-time F1 world champion loves endurance GT3 racing and has formed his own team. He has driven these cars several times, most recently at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany last September, where he beat the regular GT3 drivers' records.

Regarding the rumors of him moving to Mercedes in 2027, neither Verstappen nor Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has commented or denied the rumors.

What is clear is that Verstappen has said he will evaluate his team's performance with Ford as the engine supplier in the 2026 season, when the new F2 regulations come into effect. And if he doesn't race in F1, he admits that GT3 is the competition he will focus on.