Max Verstappen Spotted at Mercedes Test Days Before Red Bull 2026 Car Launch

Max Verstappen has reportedly been spotted testing a Mercedes ahead of Red Bull's 2026 launch.

With the 2026 Formula 1 season getting underway with the Australian Grand Prix in March, teams are edging closer to launching their cars for the new campaign.

On Thursday, Red Bull, along with sister team Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, are set to unveil their challengers for the 2026 season during an event in Detroit, USA.

It is expected that the team will only reveal the liveries and not the final design of the car.

Haas will then launch their cars next Monday, with Audi hosting their own event on Tuesday.

Mercedes, Alpine and Ferrari are also set to reveal their cars next week.

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Ahead of Red Bull's launch event, Verstappen was spotted testing a Mercedes AMG GT3 car at the Portimao circuit in Portugal.

Formula_Aerodynamics wrote on social media: "Just days before the Red Bull Ford x Racing Bulls season launch in Detroit (Thursday the 15th), Max Verstappen was spotted testing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Portimão circuit," alongside pictures of Verstappen in action.

Verstappen was testing a GT3 yesterday in Portimao
Apparently, he could be back on the track today againpic.twitter.com/zqWEJTVTx4

— Holiness (@F1BigData) January 14, 2026

Last year, the Dutchman made his GT3 debut by winning his first and only race to date, driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Nurburgring.

It was later confirmed that Verstappen has moved away from Ferrari to Mercedes for his GT3 brand.

A post confirming the deal read: "Verstappen Racing has announced a multi-year collaboration with Mercedes-AMG, starting next year.

"Verstappen Racing will continue in the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe championship, both in the Sprint and Endurance cup with a Mercedes-AMG GT3."

Ahead of the 2026 F1 season, Verstappen was forced to make a change to his driver number after losing the world title to Lando Norris.

Instead of the No.1, Verstappen will race with the No.3, the number previously used by Daniel Ricciardo.