Verstappen to Compete in Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifiers This April

Max Verstappen will use a break in the Formula 1 calendar to race at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, entering the 24 Hours qualifying event on April 18-19. The four-time F1 champion will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Lucas Auer in two four-hour races, a key step in his preparation for the full 24-hour endurance race at the end of May.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's participation highlights his relentless drive to compete and hone his skills outside of F1, especially at one of motorsport's most demanding circuits. It also serves as a pointed contrast to his recent public criticisms of Formula 1's future direction, emphasizing his passion for pure, challenging racing.

The details:

• Event & Timing: Verstappen will compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours Qualifiers, a two-part event featuring a four-hour race on Saturday evening and another on Sunday.
• Key Objective: The Saturday race timing is crucial, as it will allow Verstappen to finally experience racing the Nordschleife in the dark—a major milestone he has wanted to achieve before the main 24-hour event.
• Teammate & Car: He will share the #130 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with DTM driver Lucas Auer, a new partnership formed as his regular co-drivers are committed to a World Endurance Championship race in Imola.
• Recent Preparation: Verstappen has been actively building experience at the circuit, recently completing a private test that included running in wet conditions, another valuable box checked for endurance racing.

Between the lines:

This move is more than just preparation; it's a statement. Amidst his vocal dissatisfaction with the proposed 2026 F1 regulations, Verstappen is actively seeking out the kind of raw, unfiltered racing challenge he feels is missing. His brief, enthusiastic review of the Nordschleife test—"Fast on the Nordschleife. Really enjoyed it out there"—contrasts sharply with his F1 commentary, reinforcing where he currently finds his driving joy.