Verstappen Confirms Nürburgring 24‑Hour Qualifiers Plan with Lucas Auer

Max Verstappen confirmed he'll compete in the 24‑Hours of Nürburgring qualifying sessions from April 17‑19, sharing the Mercedes‑GT3 with Austrian Lucas Auer. The appearance follows a recent Nürburgring Langstrecken‑Serie (NLS) disqualification and gives Verstappen valuable track time before his May debut in the 24‑hour endurance race.

Why it matters:

Verstappen’s GT outings keep him sharp during F1’s quiet April window and let him enjoy racing after voicing frustration with the new 2026 F1 regulations. His involvement also raises the profile of the Nürburgring event, drawing attention from the F1 fanbase.

The details:

• Qualifying dates: 17‑19 April at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
• Car: Mercedes‑GT3 run by Verstappen Racing.
• Co‑driver: Lucas Auer, who missed NLS round 2.
• Recent setback: Disqualified from NLS round 2 after using seven tyre sets instead of the allowed six.
• Schedule clash: Skipping NLS round 3 because his team races in the GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard on 11‑12 April.
• Team mates on NLS2: Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella, who will not join the qualifiers.

What's next:

The pair will use the three‑day qualifier to fine‑tune the car before the full‑distance 24‑Hours of Nürburgring in May. Verstappen says the extra seat time “brings a big smile” and will keep him race‑ready while the F1 season pauses.