Verstappen will drive Red Bull Mercedes in 24 Hours of Nurburgring

Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen is set to make his debut in the iconic Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race, scheduled for May 14-17, 2026. The Dutch driver will compete in the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, operated by Winward Racing under the Verstappen Racing banner with prominent Red Bull branding.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

His co-drivers for the event include Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella, a lineup blending F1 precision with endurance expertise.

Verstappen’s journey to this bucket-list event builds on his prior experiences at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Last year, he participated in two rounds of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), including a victory in NLS9 aboard an Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 alongside Chris Lulham. That outing also earned him his DMSB Permit Nordschleife, a necessary qualification for the demanding circuit. In November of the previous year, he had his only prior drive on the Nordschleife in the penultimate NLS round.

Max Verstappen will compete in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in his Red Bull backed Mercedes. Image: Mercedes-AMG

Preparation for the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours includes Verstappen contesting NLS2 on March 21, 2026, a date rescheduled at Mercedes’ request to avoid conflicting with his F1 commitments between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix. This four-hour race will serve as crucial practice, allowing him to familiarize himself with driver changes, pit stops, and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in a competitive setting. An intensive testing program for the car began in southern Europe at the end of February 2026, involving detailed analysis with Winward Racing and tire partner Michelin to optimize performance.

Verstappen has expressed enthusiasm for the challenge, noting, “The Nurburgring is a special place. There’s no other track like it. The 24H Nurburgring is a race that’s been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m really thrilled we can make it happen now.” He highlighted the value of his previous NLS experiences, adding that the team has “a strong line-up with Dani, Jules and Lucas and great support from Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.”

Mercedes-AMG’s head of customer racing, Stefan Wendl, praised the lineup: “With our Performance line-up, we are excellently positioned for the traditionally strong field of the 24h Nurburgring. Together with Ravenol and Verstappen Racing, we put together a balanced driver pairing whose different strengths complement each other perfectly.” The No. 3 car, along with the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol entry, will also compete in NLS1 on March 14 and the N24 Qualifiers on April 18-19, laying further groundwork for the main event.

As the date approaches, Verstappen’s participation marks a significant crossover from F1’s high-speed sprints to the endurance demands of the Green Hell, where strategy, reliability, and teamwork will be key to success.