Verstappen back on top as showdown with MotoGP legend looms

Max Verstappen has returned to winning form in Formula One, claiming a commanding Singapore Grand Prix victory before turning his attention to an unusual motorsport challenge against nine-time motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi.

The Red Bull driver secured his first victory at Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sunday, 11 October, in his 250th Formula One Grand Prix start.

Verstappen led throughout the race after holding off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the opening corner, eventually securing his 73rd career Grand Prix victory.

The Dutchman had also won Saturday’s sprint race, completing a dominant weekend and extending his recent resurgence following victory in Malaysia a week earlier.

Verstappen has now recorded eight podium finishes in his last 10 Grands Prix, strengthening his position in the championship battle, although Kimi Antonelli remains the championship leader.

His immediate focus, however, is shifting from Formula One to GT3 endurance racing. Verstappen is scheduled to compete against former MotoGP superstar Valentino Rossi in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup finale at Portimão in Portugal on Saturday, 17 October.

He will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO entered by his Verstappen Racing team, alongside Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat.

Rossi, who won nine world motorcycle championships before switching to four-wheel racing, will compete in a BMW M4 GT3 EVO for Team WRT.

Both entries will compete in the Pro class of the three-hour endurance race. Speaking to Sky Sport Italy, Rossi acknowledged that Verstappen would be an exceptionally difficult opponent, describing the prospect of racing against him as both exciting and challenging.

Meanwhile, developments at Red Bull have also attracted attention. Former team principal Christian Horner has revealed that he remains in contact with Verstappen despite leaving the organisation. Horner reportedly congratulated the driver after Red Bull’s first victory with its own power unit.

Red Bull has also extended the contract of team principal Laurent Mekies through 2031, providing longer-term leadership stability as the team continues developing its own engine programme.

For Verstappen, the coming weekend presents an opportunity to demonstrate his versatility against one of motorcycle racing’s greatest competitors.

Sources: Formula1.com, 11 October 2026; Red Bull, 12 October 2026; GPblog, 14 October 2026; Crash.net, 14 October 2026; Grande Prêmio, 14 October 2026.