Max Verstappen to Race 24 Hours of Nürburgring in GT3 Debut
The pursuit of speed doesn’t end with the Formula 1 season for Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion will make his debut in endurance racing this year, entering the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, a grueling test of man and machine on the legendary Nordschleife circuit in Germany.
Verstappen will pilot a Mercedes-AMG GT3 fielded by Verstappen Racing, a team receiving support from both Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. He’ll share driving duties with a strong lineup of experienced GT racers: Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer. The car will sport the #3, mirroring Verstappen’s Formula 1 number this season, and prominently feature Red Bull branding.
This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Verstappen has been meticulously preparing for this challenge. Last year, he successfully completed 14 laps of the Nordschleife in a Porsche Cayman GT4, a necessary step to obtain his DMSB Permit Nordschleife – the license required to compete in GT3 machinery on the notoriously demanding track. He further honed his skills and demonstrated his potential by winning the ninth round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) in a Ferrari 296 GT3.
“The Nürburgring Nordschleife is a special place,” Verstappen said. “There’s no other circuit like it. The 24 Hours of the Nürburgring has been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m thrilled One can now make it a reality.”
Verstappen’s preparation continues with a second NLS race scheduled for , just after the Chinese Grand Prix. This will provide valuable track time and further refine the team’s strategy before the main event in May. A potential scheduling conflict could even allow Verstappen to participate in qualifying for the 24-hour race on should the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix be cancelled due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours is a significantly different beast than Formula 1. While F1 prioritizes outright speed and aerodynamic efficiency on purpose-built circuits, the Nordschleife – nicknamed “The Green Hell” – demands a different skillset. Its 15.8-mile layout is a rollercoaster of elevation changes, blind corners, and unpredictable weather. Reliability and consistent pace are paramount, as is the ability to navigate traffic with a diverse field of cars.
Verstappen’s foray into endurance racing comes at a time when he’s openly expressed some frustration with the current generation of Formula 1 cars. Following a crash during qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix, he admitted to GPblog
that he wasn’t enjoying driving under the latest regulations, describing the feeling as completely empty
. This pursuit of a different racing experience suggests a desire to reconnect with the pure joy of driving, something the Nürburgring, with its raw challenge and visceral connection to the road, might offer.
While Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until , his participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours doesn’t necessarily signal a shift away from Formula 1. Instead, it represents an opportunity to broaden his racing horizons and fulfill a long-held ambition. The Nordschleife has long been a proving ground for racing drivers, and success there would further cement Verstappen’s reputation as one of the most versatile and talented drivers of his generation.
The team will be run by Team Winward Racing, adding further expertise to Verstappen’s ambitious endeavor. Verstappen emphasized the importance of the team’s preparation, stating, “We have a strong lineup with Dani, Jules, and Lucas, and fantastic support from Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. Now it’s all about the right preparations before the events so we can maximise our performance in the races.”
This move also highlights the growing appeal of sportscar racing, particularly endurance events like the Nürburgring 24 Hours and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The introduction of recent ‘hypercar’ regulations at Le Mans has attracted major manufacturers like Ferrari, Peugeot, Aston Martin, and Ford, increasing the event’s profile and attracting a wider audience. While the Nürburgring 24 Hours sits a level below Le Mans in terms of prestige, it remains a formidable challenge and a popular event among drivers and fans alike.