Max Verstappen makes surprise Super GT test appearance in Nissan GT500 at Fuji

Verstappen samples Nissan Z GT500 in private Fuji test

Max Verstappen made an unexpected appearance at Fuji Speedway on Wednesday, taking part in a private Super GT manufacturers’ test at the wheel of a Nissan Z GT500.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion drew immediate attention when he emerged from the pits in a Red Bull-liveried Nissan during the second day of running. According to Motorsport.com, the outing formed part of a promotional shoot organised by Red Bull.

Verstappen completed several laps on a wet track as he familiarised himself with the Z GT500 package and its two-litre inline four engine. No lap times were released from the test, which featured only a limited number of GT500 entries.

This marked just his second experience in a modern Super GT machine. He previously drove the previous-generation Honda NSX-GT in 2022 during Honda’s Thanks Day event.

A Honda NSX GT3 competing in the GT300 class was also seen in Red Bull colours during the two-day Fuji test, underlining the brand’s visible presence at the event.

Red Bull’s Super GT links and Japanese pathways

Red Bull has prior ties to Super GT, having sponsored the Mugen-Honda team as part of a collaboration that extended into Super Formula. The company has also regularly placed junior drivers in Japanese motorsport categories, with current Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson the most recent graduate from Super Formula.

Verstappen’s Fuji outing fits into a broader pattern of the Dutch driver expanding his activities beyond Formula 1. He is set to contest the Nürburgring 24 Hours for the first time with Mercedes-AMG. Alongside Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella, he provisionally won the recent NLS2 round at the Nordschleife before being disqualified due to a tyre infringement.

Japanese Grand Prix looms amid difficult F1 start

The Super GT appearance comes just days before the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, where Verstappen returns to Formula 1 following a difficult start to the season in Albert Park and Shanghai.

After two rounds, he sits eighth in the drivers’ standings with eight points, a stark contrast to championship leader George Russell’s 55 for Mercedes.

Red Bull currently occupies sixth place in the teams’ championship, while former engine partner Honda has faced performance and reliability challenges since aligning with Aston Martin at the beginning of Formula 1’s new rules era.

Against that backdrop, Verstappen’s Fuji test offered a change of scenery — and a reminder of his growing footprint across multiple corners of the motorsport world.