Max Verstappen Eyes Nürburgring 24 Hours After Dominant GT3 Win

Max Verstappen is setting his sights on the prestigious Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race, following a commanding four-hour victory at the iconic Nürburgring circuit. Teaming up with Chris Lulham, Verstappen spearheaded their debut in the Pro class, dominating the race from start to finish. This triumph marks a significant step for Verstappen as he looks to expand his racing schedule, particularly eyeing the 2026 season to gain the necessary experience for the grueling 24-hour event.

Why it matters:

While many F1 drivers use their off-weekends to rest, Verstappen's relentless pursuit of racing, whether virtual or real, underscores his profound passion for motorsport beyond Formula 1. His immediate success in endurance racing, especially in a demanding class like Pro GT3, highlights his exceptional versatility and adaptability as a driver. His ambition to tackle the Nürburgring 24 Hours signals a potential future avenue for his career and adds another layer to his already impressive racing legacy.

The Details:

• Verstappen and Chris Lulham made a highly successful debut in the Pro class at round nine of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie season.
• Driving the #31 Ferrari 296 GT3, Verstappen started from third position in a rolling start and immediately took the lead at Turn 1 with a decisive braking maneuver.
• He built a significant lead of 62 seconds after his two-hour stint before handing the car over to Lulham, who then closed out the impressive victory.
• Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with the car's performance in dry conditions and the team's error-free race, celebrating a win on their first attempt.

What's next:

Verstappen's focus is now firmly on accumulating more endurance racing experience to prepare for the Nürburgring 24 Hours. While the exact timeline is fluid, he hopes to increase his participation in such events as early as next year.

• 2026 F1 Regulations: Coinciding with his endurance ambitions, 2026 will also see major changes in Formula 1 with new chassis and engine regulations. Red Bull, with Ford, will become an engine manufacturer for the first time, adding another layer to Verstappen's already packed schedule.
• Future F1 Success: Verstappen also harbors an outside chance of securing a fifth consecutive F1 title in 2025, buoyed by recent victories at the Italian and Azerbaijan GPs.
• Experience Building: Verstappen acknowledges the need for more experience before tackling the 24-hour race, stating, "Of course, I would love to compete in the 24-hour race, whether that happens next year or later, but we still need more experience for that, of course." He hopes to compete in more races next year to build this experience.

His dominant performance in GT3 racing provides a strong foundation for his endurance aspirations, suggesting that a successful transition to the 24-hour format is well within his reach.