Max Verstappen to Race in Nurburgring 24 Hours
1. Event Details
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Verstappen will compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours, scheduled May 14–17, 2026, between the Miami and Canadian Grands Prix.
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He will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 under the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing banner with a Red Bull-branded livery.
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Co-drivers include Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella.
2. Motivation
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Verstappen pursued the DMSB Permit (“Ring Licence”) to race top-level GT3 cars at the Nurburgring.
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He stressed that enjoyment and a change of environment are key reasons for taking part in endurance racing.
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He enjoys the less political, more old-school atmosphere of endurance racing compared to F1.
3. Timing and Flexibility
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The race was planned before the start of the F1 season, regardless of his current F1 driving experience.
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Verstappen noted that if the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is canceled, he might take part in additional qualifying events in April.
4. Reflections on F1
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Verstappen acknowledged that the new F1 regulations have made racing less enjoyable for him, due to energy management constraints.
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He clarified that his enjoyment isn’t purely about speed; the team environment and style of racing play a major role.
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He sees this as a chance to explore racing outside F1 while still young, rather than waiting until later in his career.
5. Key Quote
“I think I don’t need to be only a Formula 1 driver. I can also do other things… that’s why I want to explore also other things, and I don’t want to do that when I’m 40 years old. So now I think it’s the perfect age to do it.”