Rossi vs Verstappen: Everything to know about their historic GT3 battle
Rossi and Verstappen go head to head in a remarkable meeting (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool/Apex Agency)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Two of the greatest figures in motorsport history will face off this weekend - and no, it’s not a gimmick.
Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen will be racing against nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi in what sounds like a social media bit.
Yet this isn’t a social media stunt, far from it, as they face off on four wheels in the GT World Challenge Europe finale in Portimao, Portugal.
Verstappen will be making his debut in the series but has already wowed in a handful of endurance appearances alongside his F1 exploits.
He also enters in form, having won his first race of the season in Malaysia; he went back-to-back with a victory in Singapore last time out.
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Rossi, meanwhile, is no stranger to GT3, having taken to four-wheeled racing after retiring from MotoGP in 2021.
Which teams are Rossi and Verstappen racing for?
Rossi will be driving a BMW M4 GT3 for the Belgian outfit Team WRT. The car has worn his legendary blue and luminous yellow number 46 for the last three years and will be impossible to miss in Portugal.
He will be sharing the car with German Max Hesse and American Neil Verhagen.
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Verstappen may have had unsuccessful talks with Mercedes in F1, but he’s still working with them in endurance racing. The Dutchman will be driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 under his own Verstappen Racing team branding.
Verstappen will race alongside British pair Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham.
Rossi's trademark colours are unmissable (Photo: Race Pictures)
Tale of the tape
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Rossi took to four wheels regularly throughout his motorcycle career, testing for Ferrari in F1 and winning the Monza Rally Show on five occasions.
He’s been with Team WRT since 2022 and has been part of the GT World Challenge Sprint Cup-winning team an impressive three times.
On top of that, the 47-year-old has been a runner-up in the Gulf 12 Hours and finished third in this year’s Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Verstappen made his endurance debut in 2025 and was part of the team that took the Gold Cup victory at the 24 Hours of Spa.
Earlier this year, he took part in the Nurburgring 24 Hours and led after a mega start until a driveshaft failure took the team out of the race.
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What have Rossi and Verstappen said about racing each other?
Speaking about the prospect of facing Verstappen, Rossi said: “It's going to be incredible. It will be a big challenge because he's sure to be incredibly fast, but it will be fantastic.
“I have to admit I never imagined I would end up competing against Max Verstappen. It will be fantastic for everyone to have him there, and I hope to have the opportunity to follow him and see how he drives.”
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Verstappen commented: “I hope to have the opportunity to see him. He's a very interesting guy, so I hope I can catch up with him.
“I hope I don’t see him during the race, because normally that would be a good sign.
"Actually, I hope not to see anyone, to be ahead of everyone and do a good job. But you never know. The grid is very competitive, so I'm looking forward to the challenge.”
“I hope I don’t see him during the race, because normally that would be a good sign."- Max Verstappen
When is Rossi vs Verstappen? Full Portimao race schedule
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Paid practice took place on Thursday in which Verstappen got an outing on the Portimao track he loves that will be back on the F1 calendar next season.
Friday then starts with practice in the morning and qualifying in the evening:
8:45-10:15 am (UK time) - Free Practice 1
12:45-2:15 pm (UK time) - Free Practice 2
5:55-7.05 pm (UK time) - Qualifying
Saturday is race day for Rossi vs Verstappen:
5pm - 8pm (UK time) - Race
Where can you watch Rossi vs Verstappen live for free?
The race will be streamed live for free on the GT World YouTube channel, while Sky Sports in the UK will also host their own coverage.
Which F1 and GT3 stars will race against Rossi and Verstappen?
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Nicki Thiim (Aston Martin), Mirko Bortolotti (Lamborghini), and Thomas Preining (Porsche) are all huge names in the world of endurance racing, and Rossi and Verstappen will have to be at their best to beat them.
Charles Leclerc’s younger brother Arthur will be racing for AF Corse, while former Haas F1 driver Nikita Mazepin will be racing for Team Motopark Mercedes-AMG.
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