(Motorsport-Total.com) – Mercedes-AMG confirmed on Monday what had long since ceased to be a real secret: Max Verstappen will compete in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 2026. Despite the additional challenges posed by the new Formula 1 regulations, the Red Bull star is seeking another adventure.
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“The Nürburgring is a special place,” says Verstappen. “There is no other race track like it. The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring has been on my bucket list for a long time, so I am very excited that we can now make it happen.”
The Dutchman will start in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 from the Winward team. As preparation for the endurance classic, he will complete another Nordschleife appearance in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) between the two Formula 1 races in China (March 15) and Japan (March 29).
Verstappen knows: “You need many smart minds”
But how does Verstappen, who is also involved in sim racing and runs his own GT team, manage the balance between all these tasks? “It’s going well,” says the 28-year-old. “Of course, I also have many great people around me who help me with many things, in Formula 1 as well as with GT projects and the sim projects.”
Max Verstappen on the way to the 2026 Nürburgring 24h
“You can’t handle things like that alone,” knows Verstappen, who was already at the start on the Nordschleife last year. “You need many smart minds to support you and take care of every little detail so that you can perform in the end.”
In addition to pure performance, however, fun also plays a role for Verstappen, which he currently lacks in Formula 1. That’s why the Dutchman was already behind the wheel of an Australian V8 Supercar in January. “I drove the V8 in Las Vegas, quite fast actually,” he reveals with a broad grin on his face.
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“To be honest, I really enjoy watching the races anyway. Some of my friends are naturally competing there too. It’s a great series with many strong drivers. For me, driving there is of course very different from what I grew up with – significantly less downforce.”
Starting in Bathurst “would be something really cool”
“At the same time, I have also gained experience through GT3 racing, and that is something I enjoy very much.” Has Verstappen secretly already planned the next adventure? “In any case, I don’t think I’m too old for that yet,” he jokes.
A start at the Bathurst 1000 in Australia would be conceivable. “I like Bathurst very much – a fantastic track and definitely a place where I would like to race one day,” the Red Bull pilot clarifies, though a start at the 12-hour race is also not out of the question.
“Whether that will be in GT3 or in the V8, I don’t know yet,” says Verstappen, who is currently focusing on his start at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (May 14 to 17, 2026). “But it would definitely be something really cool.”
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