F1 champion Max Verstappen announces next Nurburgring outing

Max Verstappen will take part in the Nurburgring 24 Hours qualifiers this month

02 Apr 2026

Verstappen is preparing to tackle the legendary Nurburgring 24 Hours

Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen will return to the Nurburgring this month to take part in the 24 Hours qualifiers in a Mercedes.

The four-time F1 world champion will make his maiden appearance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May, having made his professional GT racing debut at the iconic track last year, winning in a Ferrari.

As part of his preparations for the event, Max Verstappen took part in the second round (though NLS1 was called off due to poor weather) of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS2) in the weekend between the Chinese and Japanese Grand Prix.

Verstappen piloted a Winward-run Mercedes-AMG GT3 car alongside Joules Gounon and Dani Juncadella to pole position and victory at NLS2, though it was later stripped from the No.3 entry due to a tyre infringement.

The Dutchman will be back in action at the Nurburgring on the weekend of 18-19 April, when the cancelled Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was due to take place, to contest the N24 qualifiers.

The qualifiers are comprised of two four-hour races, which Verstappen will tackle alongside Lucas Auer.

Team-mates Gounon and Juncadella will not be available due to their FIA World Endurance Championship commitments at Imola.

Verstappen will not take part in NLS3 next weekend, as the team is competing at Paul Ricard for the GT World Challenge Europe season-opener.

Earlier on Thursday, it was announced that Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will make his debut in GTWCE next weekend.

Verstappen’s Nurburgring exploits have come under greater attention, as he bemoans the current regulations in F1.

The Dutchman has repeatedly stated that he is considering his future in F1 carefully due to his lack of enjoyment of the current rules.

Following the Japanese Grand Prix, the strongest reports yet of a potential retirement from F1 by Verstappen emerged.

The 2026 season has also gotten off to a tough start for Red Bull under its new engine partnership with Ford, though Verstappen insists this has nothing to do with his current complaints.