Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is competing in this weekend’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring as he looks to bounce back from a recent disqualification at the renowned German circuit.
The Dutchman has temporarily swapped his primary Red Bull machinery for a Mercedes-AMG GT3 to tackle one of Europe’s most prestigious endurance events.
He is sharing driving duties with team-mates Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella under the Verstappen Racing banner.
Historic and hazardous circuit
The grueling race utilises the full 15.7-mile track, incorporating the infamous Nordschleife loop affectionately known as the ‘Green Hell’.
Formula 1 abandoned racing on this specific layout in 1976 due to severe safety concerns and logistical difficulties.
The legendary track was deemed far too dangerous following Niki Lauda’s near-fatal crash during that season.
The reigning world champion is highly experienced on the daunting circuit virtually, having completed thousands of laps on his home simulator prior to his real-world debut.
Recent rule breach
The elite driver’s real-life preparations for the 24-hour marathon have not been entirely smooth.
During a preparatory Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) race in March, his team crossed the finish line more than a minute ahead of the field.
However, race officials subsequently disqualified the crew for a technical infringement regarding their equipment allocation.
The team utilised seven sets of tyres during the event, exceeding the strictly enforced limit of six.
The victory was ultimately awarded to Rowe Racing following the harsh penalty.
Safety concerns and criticism
The inherent dangers of the Nordschleife were starkly highlighted in April during a separate qualifying event.
A severe seven-car collision tragically claimed the life of Finnish driver Juha Miettinen.
The Red Bull star was participating in the same session but immediately withdrew following the fatal incident.
Following the tragedy, former Formula 1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya publicly suggested that team management should intervene.
The Colombian veteran stated that Red Bull should have actively prevented their franchise driver from competing in such perilous conditions.
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will race a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo at this weekend’s Nurburgring 24 Hours, driving record ticket sales at the historic German circuit.
The Dutchman has swapped his usual Red Bull machinery for the gruelling endurance event starting on Saturday.
His unprecedented participation in one of motorsport’s most prestigious non-F1 events has resulted in a historic first-ever sell-out for weekend tickets.
Rivals relish the ultimate challenge
Fellow GT drivers are eagerly anticipating the chance to share the fearsome Nordschleife track with the current dominant force in global motorsport.
Local specialist Nico Menzel, affectionately known as the ‘Kid of the Ring’, grew up near the circuit and welcomes the intense spotlight.
“Max is a racer – he simply loves racing, and that connects all of us.”
“I don’t think anyone doubts that Max is probably the best driver in the world, maybe even the best we’ve ever seen. To be able to race against him, while he brings so much passion and attracts huge attention to the sport, is incredibly positive.”
Mastering the Green Hell
The 25-kilometre Nordschleife poses an entirely different challenge to modern grand prix circuits.
Endurance racing requires navigating vast grids of mixed-class cars, unpredictable mountain weather, and treacherous night-time driving.
Despite his elite pedigree, the championship leader was forced to secure his qualification on Thursday after earlier disqualifications and mechanical failures disrupted his preparation.
The 26-year-old successfully completed two timed afternoon laps, impressively clocking the third-fastest overall time.
Preparing for the darkness
Track time is crucial ahead of a full-day marathon, and the former karting prodigy utilised later sessions to gain valuable night driving experience.
Heavy rain swept across the region during Thursday evening, presenting perfectly treacherous practice conditions for his planned overnight stints.
While the broader sporting world focuses on the superstar’s presence, competitors remain entirely focused on victory.
“Competing against an active Formula 1 world champion is something special. However, when it comes to racing, it doesn’t matter what car is in front or behind me,” Menzel added.
“If it’s a blue-and-red Mercedes, I’ll try to catch and overtake him. And if he gets big in my mirrors, I’ll try to keep him behind me.”
Max Verstappen will compete in his first 24-hour endurance race this weekend at the iconic Nurburgring, driving a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion has spent the last 12 months preparing for the grueling event with six exploratory outings at the Nordschleife.
Since securing his fourth world title at the end of 2024, the Dutchman has increasingly focused on conquering motorsport’s most prestigious endurance spectacles.
Looking beyond single-seaters
He has long expressed a desire to compete in other categories while still at the absolute peak of his physical and competitive powers.
All the big endurance races I want to do, it’s something that when I was a kid, my dad was doing them.
Max Verstappen
The 28-year-old insists that his legacy in motorsport does not need to be entirely defined by his achievements in Grand Prix racing.
I don’t need to be only an F1 driver, I can also do other things. I’ve done this already for a while, achieved everything I want to achieve so that’s why I want to explore other things and I don’t want to do them when I’m 40 years old. Now is the perfect age to do it.
Max Verstappen
Navigating the ‘Green Hell’
The Nurburgring 24 Hours remains one of the most punishing and highly anticipated calendar fixtures in global motorsport.
A staggering 161 cars spread across 23 different classes will tackle the unrelenting 15.769-mile circuit this year.
The unforgiving track, famously dubbed ‘The Green Hell’ by three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, has not hosted Formula 1 since Niki Lauda’s near-fatal fiery accident in 1976.
Managing multi-class chaos
Competing in the premier GT3 division, the Red Bull Racing star will need to safely navigate through significantly slower traffic on a very narrow ribbon of tarmac.
Nighttime running amplifies the danger of these multi-class overtakes, placing a massive premium on driver focus and spatial awareness.
The 1.333-mile Dottinger Hohe straight, where cars regularly exceed 190mph, will offer the prime overtaking opportunity for the leading pack as they side-draft through the darkness.
Katherine Legge will become the first woman to attempt American motorsport’s famous “double” by racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
The 45-year-old’s agency announced on Wednesday that she will pilot the number 78 car for Live Fast Motorsports in the 600-mile stock car event on 24 May.
This gruelling evening race will immediately follow her scheduled appearance in the Indy 500, where she is entered to drive A.J. Foyt Motorsports’ number 11 car.
Endurance and historic precedent
Only five drivers have ever competed in both prestigious events on the same day since the modern double-header concept began in 1994.
“It requires a level of endurance and precision that very few in history have pursued,” Legge told USA Today.
“I don’t know whether that makes me crazy or not for wanting to do it.”
Breaking new ground
The veteran racer views this immense challenge as an opportunity to inspire others and break new barriers in the sport.
“It’s another groundbreaking thing that I can showcase to the world really that, if you set your mind to things, you can do anything,” she added.
She is currently preparing for her fifth start at the famous Brickyard, hoping to improve upon her career-best 22nd-place finish secured in 2012.
Recent years have seen the British driver expand her repertoire into stock cars, making eight NASCAR Cup Series appearances over the past two seasons.
Following famous footsteps
Tony Stewart remains the benchmark for the mammoth double-header, standing as the only competitor to complete all 1,100 racing miles.
Stewart remarkably achieved top-six finishes in both demanding races during his 2001 campaign.
Kyle Larson was the most recent driver to attempt the feat, though severe weather delays in Indianapolis ruined his 2024 bid before crashes ended his 2025 campaign.
Recent NASCAR regulation changes regarding playoff waivers have made the double increasingly difficult for full-time drivers, creating a unique window for specialists to tackle the historic challenge.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will decide whether to extend his Formula 1 career with Aston Martin into a 24th season following the August summer break.
The 44-year-old driver is in the final year of his current contract and is evaluating his options for the 2027 campaign.
Despite a difficult start to the new engine regulation era for his team, the Spanish veteran remains unready to immediately step away from motorsport’s top level.
He plans to use the mid-season pause to consult with his family before committing to another year on the grid.
Evaluating options beyond 2026
Speaking at the Miami Grand Prix, the former Alpine driver confirmed he has not yet deeply considered his next move.
“Sometime in the summer, I need to make a decision,” he said.
“I need to speak with my people first and decide what to do next year.”
While Aston Martin and their new engine partner Honda have struggled for pace, he remains optimistic about the team’s long-term project.
He emphasised his commitment to the Silverstone-based outfit regardless of whether he remains in the cockpit.
“I want to succeed here behind the wheel or not being the wheel,” he added.
“You will see me in the paddock even if I stop racing.”
Fatherhood and enduring dominance
Any contract decision will heavily factor in his new family dynamic, having welcomed his first child in March.
The cancellation of several early-season races in the Middle East allowed the Spaniard crucial additional time at home with his newborn son.
On the track, however, his performances show no sign of slowing down as he continues to comprehensively outperform his team-mate.
He recently outqualified Lance Stroll for a remarkable 40th consecutive Grand Prix, proving his enduring speed.
“I’m performing well enough to show the team that I can give them the results if the car is competitive,” he explained.
Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has urged Lewis Hamilton to retire at the end of the current season to make way for emerging young talent.
Hamilton currently sits fifth in the Drivers’ Championship during his second campaign with Ferrari, level on points with reigning world champion Lando Norris.
The 41-year-old secured his maiden podium for the Italian manufacturer at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this year.
However, subsequent sixth-place finishes in Japan and Miami have prompted criticism from six-time Grand Prix winner Schumacher.
Schumacher calls for youth progression
The German believes both the seven-time world champion and Fernando Alonso should step away from the sport entirely.
“Hamilton is in a better position again this year but, over the course of the season, he won’t stand a chance against Leclerc.”
Schumacher told Sky Germany’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
“It’s time – and I have to say the same about Fernando Alonso. Hamilton and Alonso have had a wonderful time in Formula 1. But now it’s time for both of them to step out of their cockpits at the end of the year and give young people a chance.”
Bearman backed as potential successor
Should the British veteran choose to end his career, Haas driver Oliver Bearman is viewed as the natural successor to partner Charles Leclerc.
Bearman has been part of the Ferrari driver academy since his teenage years.
Schumacher insists the 21-year-old is fully prepared for an immediate promotion to a front-running team.
“If he gets the chance, he’ll even pose a challenge to Charles Leclerc. I’m pretty sure of that – I’d say he’s actually better.”
Russell faces Mercedes pressure
Elsewhere on the grid, George Russell is facing intense scrutiny at Mercedes following the rapid rise of team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
The 28-year-old was expected to lead the Silver Arrows this season but has fallen 20 points behind his younger colleague.
Antonelli has claimed three consecutive victories, comprehensively overshadowing Russell’s opening-round triumph at the Australian Grand Prix.
Mechanical issues have hampered the former Williams driver in recent rounds, causing him to miss out on podium finishes in both Japan and Miami.
These ongoing struggles have led one former world champion to accuse the British driver of going missing when it matters most.
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will make his highly anticipated racing debut at the legendary ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend in pursuit of old-school motorsport.
The prospect of the reigning Red Bull driver using a free weekend to compete in one of endurance racing’s most chaotic events has captured widespread attention.
Competing on the iconic German circuit has been a long-held ambition for the 26-year-old.
While he has completed thousands of virtual laps via his passion for sim racing, this year presents his first realistic opportunity to dovetail the gruelling event with his intense Formula 1 schedule.
Quest for proper racing
The Dutch driver recently expressed his desire to experience the pure thrill of the formidable track.
“It just shows that my love, it’s not only around Formula 1, I love racing, I love competing.”
Speaking about his motivation, Verstappen revealed that his main objective was the pursuit of authenticity.
“Just going back to a bit more old-school, proper racing, that’s what I’m trying to seek. And that’s what I get from driving at the Nordschleife.”
Despite his elite status at the pinnacle of motorsport, the championship leader had to earn a specialised licence to compete.
Securing the mandatory permit required passing classroom exams, completing test days, and participating in lower-tier GT4 events.
Taming the Green Hell
This weekend’s endurance spectacle takes place on a punishing 170-corner layout.
The demanding track combines the modern Grand Prix circuit with the infamous 12.9-mile Northern Loop.
Designed by Gustav Eichler in the 1920s, the unique circuit carves through the Eifel mountains and features a staggering 300-metre elevation change.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is expected to make a crucial decision regarding his Formula 1 future ahead of July’s British Grand Prix following a difficult start to his Ferrari career.
The veteran racer has endured a challenging transition since departing Mercedes for the Italian marque, failing to secure a race victory this season.
He currently sits fifth in the drivers’ standings and has been consistently outperformed by team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The sole highlight of his campaign came during March’s Chinese Grand Prix, where the British driver claimed his maiden podium in red.
Silverstone announcement predicted
Speculation is mounting that the sport’s most successful driver could announce his departure at Silverstone, a circuit where he holds a record nine victories.
Dutch motorsport journalist Louis Dekker believes the historic British venue would be the logical location for such a significant declaration.
“Ferrari is disappointing me. Besides the excellent starts, they are not capable of fighting for victories.”
Dekker told the NOS-F1 podcast that rival teams have comfortably bypassed the Scuderia in the development race.
“They seemed to be the team to beat, but McLaren is once again ahead. I’d be willing to bet on it. I think Hamilton will announce his retirement at Silverstone at the end of this season.”
Fellow broadcaster Jeroen Bleekemolen echoed these sentiments, suggesting a final decision may have already been made behind closed doors.
Calls to step aside for youth
The pressure on the former Mercedes star is being compounded by calls from pundits to make way for emerging talent.
Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher believes both the Stevenage-born driver and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso should conclude their illustrious careers this year.
“Hamilton is in a better position again this year but, over the course of the season, he won’t stand a chance against Leclerc.”
Schumacher told Sky Germany that it was time for the veteran world champions to step out of their cockpits.
“Hamilton and Alonso have had a wonderful time in Formula 1. But now it’s time for both of them to give young people a chance.”
Scrutiny building ahead of home race
Ferrari currently trail their German rivals in the constructors’ championship, adding further frustration to a winless streak for their star signing that dates back to July 2024.
Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok agrees that the narrative surrounding the legendary driver will peak during the European summer.
“I think this conversation becomes a talking point when we get to around the British Grand Prix. That’s when we can start to have this conversation.”
Despite the growing clamour, Chandhok acknowledged that the fierce competitive nature of the grid’s most decorated driver could yet see him extend his stay at the pinnacle of motorsport.