Verstappen swaps Suzuka build up for wet laps in a Nissan Z Nismo GT500 at Fuji Raceway

The Red Bull driver was spotted at Fuji Raceway on Wednesday, where he spent time lapping the iconic former Grand Prix circuit in soaking wet conditions aboard a Nissan Z Nismo GT500, which is raced in the Japan Super GT.

It was an unexpected sight in the middle of Grand Prix week. Verstappen, whose passion for driving stretches well beyond his Formula 1 programme, looked right at home as he pushed the car hard despite the rain.

Fans gathered to watch the session, while Nissan executives were also present and seen speaking with Verstappen between runs as he sampled one of Japan’s most serious racing machines.

The outing offered another reminder that Verstappen rarely needs much excuse to get behind the wheel, whether it is a world championship weekend or not.

Seeing Verstappen in a Red Bull-backed Nissan was not on many people’s 2026 Formula 1 bingo cards, but it made perfect sense given his well-known appetite for driving anything fast.

At Fuji, he appeared to waste little time getting up to speed. In difficult conditions, with standing water and little margin for error, Verstappen was seen leaning on the GT500 car and exploring its limits while those in attendance watched on. Below is the video on the Formula Maximale YouTube Channel.

Verstappen said of his outing at Fuji in the Super GT: "It was a lot of fun. It’s just a shame it was raining quite a bit, so I couldn’t do that many laps. I would have liked to do more. It’s a fantastic car and a great category. It was a really good experience to drive it and feel the grip, especially in the wet.

"It’s quite different compared to what we usually have in Europe. Being able to drive so many different cars is always a good thing," added the four-time Formula 1 World Champion.

Asked if he would consider racing in Super GT one day, Max replied: "Maybe one day, who knows. It’s a great category. I just wish they had one standout race instead of only a championship.

"If there were one big race, it would be easier to commit. I can’t do a full championship, and doing just one race in a championship is not always ideal. But I would love to race these guys. It reminds me of the old DTM cars, which I really enjoyed watching," added Verstappen.

That sort of cameo is exactly in character. Even with a Grand Prix weekend just around the corner, Verstappen’s instinct was not to switch off but to find another track and another car.

The Nissan Z Nismo GT500 is no road car special. Built for Japan’s Super GT series, it is a serious competition machine powered by a 2-litre inline engine producing around 650 horsepower.

It is also a mid-engined, Rear Wheel Drive package weighing just over 1,000 kilograms, which makes it a very different challenge from the current generation of Formula 1 machinery, which the Dutch ace is not fond of, to say the least.

Whether the session was promotional, exploratory or simply a chance to enjoy another form of racing, Verstappen did not look like a man forcing himself through an obligation. If anything, he looked as though he was enjoying one of the more refreshing moments of his Japanese Grand Prix build-up.

Given Red Bull’s current form, there may even be an argument that Fuji offered Verstappen the most carefree laps he will drive all week.

That may be a harsh reading of the team’s competitive position, but it speaks to the wider point. Verstappen remains one of the few top-level drivers who seems happiest when he is simply driving, regardless of the badge on the car or the weather around him.

So while others were easing into the Suzuka weekend more conventionally, Verstappen was doing what he usually does best: finding another circuit, another machine and another excuse to drive fast. (Agnes Carlier Reports from Suzuka)