P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lance Stroll says he consulted Max Verstappen before committing to making his GT racing debut in the unexpected F1 2026 calendar gap
Lance Stroll consulted with Max Verstappen before deciding to make his GT racing debut during this year’s unexpected Formula 1 calendar gap. Stroll will compete in the GT World Challenge Europe season opener at Paul Ricard alongside Roberto Merhi and Mari Boya in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for Comtoyou Racing. This decision was made after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs due to military conflict in the Middle East. Stroll’s plan to race in the GT event was conceived during the Japanese GP at Suzuka where they discussed options during the break. Stroll expressed gratitude to Comtoyou owner Jean-Michel Baert for quickly organizing the opportunity while they were in Japan. Stroll’s main goal for the weekend is to enjoy the race, but he believes victory is possible despite their lack of experience in GT racing. This new challenge offers Stroll a different opportunity than what Formula 1 typically provides, adding to his motivation for participating.
