Max Verstappen to compete in Nurburgring 24-Hours race
Formula 1’s first race of the season in Melbourne divided viewers, with new cars and regulations resulting in an entirely different racing aesthetic.
Many of the drivers have been critical of F1’s new feel, including Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. So, could the announcement of his involvement in this year’s Nurburgring 24-Hour endurance race be a sign of him heading towards the exit door of F1?
Endurance racing has supposedly been on Verstappen’s career “bucket list”, and May’s race will see the Dutch driver behind the wheel of a Red Bull-branded Mercedes AMG GT3 car. The event at the 15.8-mile circuit is part of the World Endurance Championship, which had its first race of the season in Qatar cancelled due to the recent outbreak of war in the Middle East.
Verstappen said: "There's no other track like it. The 24h Nurburgring is a race that's been on my bucket list for a long time, so I'm really thrilled we can make it happen now.”
Last year, Verstappen twice drove around the Nordschliefe circuit, initially gaining his GT3 licence before competing in a round of the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS), which he won in a Ferrari, with Britain's Chris Lulham.
credit: Max Verstappen
Verstappen also brings regular experience from endurance sim racing into the Nurburgring event, which sits one below the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans fixture. The Red Bull driver has previously spoken about his desire to compete at Le Mans, with new hypercar regulations drawing more eyes to the event, as well as heritage marques like Ferrari, Aston Martin and Ford.
The Red Bull driver’s future was the subject of speculation last season, following the departures of Adrian Newey and Christian Horner. Verstappen reportedly met with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff in Italy, although the significance of that meeting was later played down. The 28-year-old’s contract with Red Bull runs out in 2028.
The Nurburgring 24 Hours takes place on 16-17 May, and sits between the Miami and Canadian Grands Prix on the motorsport calendar.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Getty Images/ Red Bull Content Pool