{"id":600026,"date":"2026-04-11T12:41:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T12:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/600026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T12:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T12:41:14","slug":"f1-news-lance-stroll-sought-max-verstappen-advice-for-gt-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/600026\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 news: Lance Stroll sought Max Verstappen advice for GT switch"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Stroll
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLance Stroll sought advice from Max Verstappen ahead of his GT3 debut this weekend. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n

The Aston Martin driver will contest the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup opener at Paul Ricard this weekend<\/a>, sharing an Aston Martin Vantage with ex-Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi and Aston Martin academy driver Mari Boya for Comtoyou Racing.<\/p>\n

His appearance comes during an unexpected gap in the F1 calendar following the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, which opened the door for a one-off switch to GT machinery.<\/p>\n

Stroll explained the idea was first formed during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend at Suzuka, while dining with Merhi and others as they discussed how to use the break.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had the idea to do a GT race together,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s really where it all started, in Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n

From there, Stroll turned to Verstappen for guidance, with the four-time world champion having expanded his own involvement in GT racing over the past year.<\/p>\n

Stroll confirmed the pair spoke briefly at Suzuka, focusing on how to make the opportunity a reality.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe talked about who to contact, and since he\u2019s already involved in GT racing, we discussed it a bit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Verstappen\u2019s growing presence in GT competition includes plans to contest next month\u2019s Nurburgring 24 Hours<\/a>, and follows a recent NLS victory that was later overturned due to a tyre rule breach<\/a>, having also taken a debut win in the series last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For Stroll, the move offers a chance to explore a different discipline during a difficult start to his 2026 campaign, having yet to be classified in a grand prix this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t have been possible [without Baert],\u201d Stroll said, crediting Comtoyou owner and team principal Jean-Michel Baert.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really organised this in just a few days while we were in Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite it being his first GT outing, Stroll is not ruling out a competitive result in the six-hour race, which features a near 60-car field and an 18-car Pro class.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Formula 1, you don\u2019t always have the opportunity to win,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, it\u2019s very competitive, but even if it\u2019s our first time and we lack experience, if everything comes together \u2013 good set-up, good feeling \u2013 winning is possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t really exist in Formula 1. That\u2019s also a big motivation for me to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stroll does bring some endurance racing experience, having previously competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona on two occasions in prototype machinery, including a fifth-place finish on debut in 2016, though this weekend will mark his first outing in a production-based GT car.<\/p>\n

The Paul Ricard event opens the Endurance Cup season, with a single six-hour race set to launch the campaign in southern France.<\/p>\n


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