Verstappen.com Racing has secured two highly decorated GT3 drivers as it prepares for a manufacturer switch and a step up to the professional ranks in 2026. Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, both Mercedes-AMG factory-backed champions with multiple major endurance victories between them, are set to join the operation founded by four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The move signals a significant elevation in ambition for the team as it transitions from Aston Martin machinery to Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo hardware and targets the top Pro category in the GT World Challenge Europe.
From Gold Cup success to professional racing ambitions
The team enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 campaign, securing the Gold Cup championship in both the Endurance and Sprint formats of the GT World Challenge Europe. Harry King, Chris Lulham, and Thierry Vermeulen claimed the Endurance title in an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo run with technical support from 2 Seas Motorsport. Lulham and Vermeulen, both protégés of Verstappen, added the Sprint Cup Gold Cup crown driving a Ferrari 296 GT3 for Emil Frey Racing in Verstappen.com livery.
Vermeulen also competed in the DTM with consistent podium finishes and pole positions, while Verstappen himself joined Lulham for a victory in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. The varied programme demonstrated the breadth of the team’s ambitions and the talent within its driver roster.
Now, with the move to the professional category confirmed for 2026, Verstappen.com Racing has reinforced its lineup with two proven race winners who bring extensive experience at the highest level of GT3 competition.
Jules Gounon brings championship pedigree and endurance mastery
Gounon arrives with a formidable record across multiple championships. The 30-year-old Andorran has competed in GT3 racing for a decade, claiming the ADAC GT Masters title in 2017 with Callaway Competition before winning back-to-back GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup championships in 2022 and 2023 with Mercedes-AMG.
His trophy cabinet includes two CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa victories, three Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour wins, and a class victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Beyond GT3, Gounon currently races in the Hypercar category for Alpine in the FIA World Endurance Championship, showcasing his versatility across multiple prototype and GT platforms.
His deep integration within the Mercedes-AMG motorsport programme as a factory driver makes him an ideal choice to spearhead the team’s switch to German machinery. Sources indicate that Verstappen.com Racing will continue its partnership with 2 Seas Motorsport for technical support while fielding the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, the same car Verstappen tested at Estoril in Portugal earlier this month.
Dani Juncadella adds Formula 1 simulation expertise and Spanish flair
Juncadella, nephew of former Minardi driver Luis Pérez-Sala, will be a familiar name to Formula 1 followers. The Spaniard completed several free practice sessions for Force India in 2014 and currently serves as a simulator driver for the Aston Martin F1 team, a role that keeps him closely connected to the pinnacle of motorsport.
In GT3 racing, the 33-year-old has established himself as one of the category’s most consistent performers. He partnered with Gounon to win the 2022 24 Hours of Spa and the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup title, before the duo claimed GTD Pro honours at Daytona. Juncadella also boasts race wins in both the DTM and the FIA World Endurance Championship, demonstrating his ability to adapt to different technical regulations and competitive environments.
His combination of single-seater background, simulation work at the highest level, and proven GT3 success makes him an invaluable asset for a team looking to compete immediately in the Pro ranks. The pairing of Gounon and Juncadella gives Verstappen.com Racing a driver lineup capable of challenging for outright victories from the outset.
Driver lineup questions and strategic direction for 2026
While Chris Lulham is expected to remain with Verstappen.com Racing in the GT World Challenge, uncertainty surrounds the future of Thierry Vermeulen within the team’s 2026 plans. The young driver showed impressive pace across multiple series in 2024, but the step up to the Pro category may necessitate a reconfiguration of driver assignments.
The switch to Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo machinery represents more than just a change of badge. The German manufacturer’s GT3 platform has proven highly competitive in recent seasons, with Gounon and Juncadella intimately familiar with its strengths and characteristics. Their technical feedback will be crucial as the team adjusts to the new car and seeks performance gains throughout the season.
The decision to enter the Pro category also reflects Verstappen’s ambition to establish his team among the leading GT3 operations in Europe. Competing against works-supported entries from major manufacturers will provide a stern test, but the combination of experienced personnel, proven drivers, and competitive machinery positions the team well for the challenge ahead.
What this means for Verstappen.com Racing’s long-term ambitions
This expansion into the professional ranks marks a logical progression for a team that has quickly established credibility in GT racing. The addition of two factory-level drivers signals intent to compete for overall honours rather than class victories, elevating the profile of Verstappen’s motorsport operations beyond their current standing.
The 2026 season will also test whether the team can maintain its winning culture while competing against better-resourced factory efforts. Gounon and Juncadella bring not only speed but also the experience of operating within professional racing structures, knowledge that will prove essential as the team navigates the increased competition and technical demands of the Pro category.
For Verstappen himself, the project represents an opportunity to build a lasting legacy in motorsport beyond his Formula 1 career. Success in the GT World Challenge would establish Verstappen.com Racing as a serious player in the global GT3 landscape and potentially open doors to further expansion in endurance racing. The foundation has been laid with Gold Cup success; now the real test begins.
