Max Verstappen features in a Red Bull promotional clip testing a Super GT car in wet conditions at Fuji Speedway, prompting criticism from driver João Paulo de Oliveira on May 11, 2026. The video compares Verstappen’s laps with Atsushi Miyake’s benchmark time.
What happened
Red Bull released an eight-minute promotional video showing Max Verstappen testing a Red Bull-branded Super GT car at Fuji Speedway, filmed in wet conditions before the Japanese Grand Prix, according to PlanetF1’s coverage on May 11, 2026.[1]
The clip staged a time-challenge in which Verstappen attempted to match or beat a lap time set by Super GT driver Atsushi Miyake. Miyake’s fastest lap was recorded at 1:44.075; Verstappen was within a tenth of that time on his first attempt and then went 1.785 seconds faster on his next lap, as reported by PlanetF1.[1]
Why it matters
One veteran competitor argued the presentation risked understating the variable conditions and the experience of regular Super GT drivers. João Paulo de Oliveira, who has raced in Super GT since 2006, posted that wet-track lap times can fluctuate by nearly two seconds in minutes and that the video’s framing felt “somewhat off.”[1]
Promotional material from major teams can shape public perceptions of series competitiveness and the standing of local drivers, making accurate context important when crossover stars are featured.
Background
Atsushi Miyake won at Fuji in 2024 and finished third in the Super GT drivers’ standings that season, a benchmark cited in the video.[1]
Verstappen has expanded into endurance racing and was due to make his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut in May 2026, sharing a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Jules Gounon, Lucas Auer and Daniel Juncadella, according to the same report.[1]
Preparatory events at the Nordschleife earlier in 2026 included an NLS victory by Verstappen, Gounon and Juncadella that was later voided because the team used seven sets of tyres across qualifying and the race, one more than the permitted maximum of six.[1]
Reactions
João Paulo de Oliveira publicly objected to the video’s presentation, calling for more respect for Super GT and its current drivers in promotional material.[1]
Miyake, by contrast, described sharing the car with Verstappen as an opportunity to observe a world champion’s driving and called the experience “extremely exciting.”[1]
The PlanetF1 report also recorded Verstappen stalling the car twice during the session and making light comments about the challenge of driving the Super GT machine in the wet.[1]
What's next
Verstappen expressed hope of returning to Fuji in 2027 to repeat the challenge in dry conditions.[1]
Attention will shift to Verstappen’s endurance campaign at the Nurburgring later in May 2026, where his performance and the team’s compliance with regulations are likely to be scrutinised after earlier procedural infractions reported in warm-up events.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Why did João Paulo de Oliveira criticise the video?
He said wet-track lap times can vary by nearly two seconds in minutes and that the video’s framing made Verstappen appear nearly two seconds faster after only a few laps, which he found misleading.[1]
What were the lap times shown?
Atsushi Miyake’s benchmark was 1:44.075; Verstappen was within a tenth of that on his first lap and then recorded a lap 1.785 seconds faster, per the PlanetF1 report.[1]
Is Verstappen competing in endurance racing as well?
Yes. Verstappen was due to make his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut in May 2026, sharing a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Jules Gounon, Lucas Auer and Daniel Juncadella.[1]
