Max Verstappen hasn’t piloted a GT3 car since his class win at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May, and on October 17 he’ll jump back in the No. 3 Mercedes‑AMG GT3 for the GT World Challenge Europe finale at Portimão, sharing duties with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat.
The seat opened because Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon are off at the WEC round that weekend, while Rossi will line up in a WRT‑run BMW – enough reason to mark the date twice on the calendar.
Finding time for a GT3 entry raises eyebrows.
The rig lets Verstappen dominate across disciplines.
Why Max Verstappen chose a static rig
Most premium sims chase realism with motion platforms that pitch, roll and shake. Verstappen rejected that tech, opting for a static cockpit. On Team Redline’s YouTube channel he explained, “I’m driving at home on a static rig because it’s faster. Motion rigs add delay, and while they mimic real‑life feel, they aren’t necessary right now.” In my view, a static rig gives him a clear edge.
Without budget constraints, his choice boils down to speed: a still platform eliminates unwanted movement, and he doesn’t need to acclimate to car‑generated G‑forces.
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The hardware and the team behind it
At his Monaco base, Verstappen trains on Simucube ActivePedals paired with a Precision Sim Engineering LM‑X wheel, framed by three 32‑inch Samsung Odyssey G7 curved monitors. The wheelbase is a Leo Bodnar SimSteering2 Ultimate, his seat a custom Recaro Podium, and a F1 World Drivers’ Championship trophy sits beside the rig. Estimates place a comparable build between $25,000 and $35,000, not counting the trophy.
The cockpit also houses a Red Bull Mini Fridge Baby Cooler 2020 (RB‑BC2020) for his energy‑drink stash, I assume.
“It’s pretty custom, and you can buy it all online, but you get into some personal settings as well,” he told Car and Driver early 2026. “The most important things to get right are the brake pedal and the wheelbase, besides a solid PC. Those are crucial for true competitiveness.”
When race weekends roll around, Team Redline outfits a travel version inside his motorhome using a Sim‑Lab P1‑X cockpit, and he reportedly has a few more rigs in other locations, including one aboard his yacht.
His software of choice is iRacing, and Team Redline frequently competes in events hosted by the game’s developers.
Whatever unfolds at Portimão against Rossi, Verstappen will have logged more hours on a portable rig than most rivals have amassed in actual GT3 cars this season.
“That he can make his living off it. That is the goal, and that’s something we’re slowly making ways in.”
Photos from F1 Bahrain GP in Malaysia – Friday
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– The Team