Valentino Rossi jokes about Max Verstappen: "I cleared the way"

Rossi welcomes Verstappen to the GT3 fold

Motorsport icon Valentino Rossi has offered a lighthearted take on the growing trend of Formula 1 stars venturing into GT3 racing, playfully suggesting he helped "open the door" for four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen to enter the discipline.

"I opened the door a little, I cleared the way a bit," Rossi told Sky Sport Italia with a smile. "I'm happy, I don't think it's all down to me, but it's a great satisfaction to see Verstappen driving this kind of car. I really hope I can get on track with him soon and do a couple of laps together."

The appeal of GT3 racing

For Rossi, the allure of GT3 is rooted in the purity of the driving experience. "It's a category that is really growing," he noted. "The cars are fantastic to drive, and the essence of motorsport is still very clear. They are fast, but also heavy and difficult to control, which makes the racing exciting. It's just very cool."

Verstappen has wasted no time making his mark since obtaining his racing license less than a year ago. Operating under his own team, Verstappen Racing, the Red Bull driver has already secured a debut win in the Nürburgring Endurance Series and a pole position at the NLS2 race in April. He is currently preparing for the prestigious Nürburgring 24 Hours, where he will share a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer.

The Paul Ricard event also saw another F1 presence on the grid, with Lance Stroll making his GT3 debut in an Aston Martin Vantage. Despite a strong showing that included the eighth-fastest lap of the race, the Canadian’s outing was hampered by penalties and eventual retirement due to gearbox issues.