- Verstappen makes long-awaited Nürburgring 24 Hours debut this weekend.
- Months of preparation, but Balance of Performance could decide his fate.
- A sell-out crowd, penalty already served, and Le Mans talks in background.
Max Verstappen will make his first start in the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring this weekend. He joins a field that has already made the event historic before a single lap is run.
Organisers confirmed a complete sell-out, the first in the race’s history. The four-time Formula 1 world champion arrives with months of preparation behind him, but has been measured about his expectations.
Verstappen has been working towards this race since last year. He has made multiple appearances on the Nordschleife and completed intensive SimRacing sessions as part of his build-up.
He won his debut GT3 race in the Nürburgring Endurance Series last September, driving a Ferrari 296, and then used the NLS2 race last month as a final preparation step before the 24-hour event.
Verstappen confident but cautious on preparation
Despite that groundwork, Verstappen acknowledged that one significant factor remains outside his control.
The Balance of Performance (BoP), the regulatory mechanism used in GT racing to level the competition across different manufacturers, could shape how his Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo performs on race day.
“We have prepared as well as possible, but at the end of the day, of course, it also depends on the BoP, where we’re going to be at,” he told media, including RacingNews365.
BoP adjustments allow organisers to alter parameters including minimum vehicle weight, boost pressure, fuel volume limits and ride height.
The ADAC has already made changes following last month’s qualifiers, giving half the GT3 models a power increase. Verstappen’s No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo was left unchanged.
A strong team, but the car must survive
Verstappen’s entry competes in the top SP9 class and fields a strong driver line-up alongside him.
Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella, all experienced GT and endurance racers with deep knowledge of the Nordschleife, share the car.
The Winward Racing outfit handles the technical operation, with factory support from Mercedes-AMG Motorsport.
Verstappen spoke directly about the team’s readiness.
“I think from the driver’s side, we’re good, the team is strong,” he said. “We just need to make sure that the car stays in one piece, especially for the 24-hour race.”
That concern carries real weight at this circuit. The combined layout stretches over 25 kilometres and mixes high-performance GT3 cars with much slower, near-production vehicles, meaning drivers manage significant speed differences throughout the race.
The road to this weekend has not been without incident, either. During last month’s 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, Auer collided with a Porsche Cayman at the Hohe Acht section while attempting an overtake. The stewards handed Verstappen’s car a three-place grid penalty as a result.
The Nürburgring as an antidote to F1 frustrations
Max Verstappen has been open about his unhappiness with Formula 1’s new regulations, which he has called “anti-racing.”
His time on the Nordschleife has offered a clear contrast to that frustration. Reflecting on the NLS2 race, he told ESPN that the experience reminded him of something he had been missing.
“It’s just reminding me what real motorsport is like,” he said. “I jump out of the car, and I’m happy, and that’s what I’m trying to chase.”
He was equally clear, however, that his interest in endurance racing is not simply a reaction to discontent with F1. He told ESPN he had watched the discipline for years.
“In the beginning in F1, of course, I wanted to have success, and I wanted to win,” he said. “That was definitely my pure focus. But now I can do a bit more around it. This was actually the first real possibility to do it.”
The atmosphere at the Nürburgring also appeals to him on a personal level.
“It’s a bit more old school,” he said. “It’s still nice to see the passionate fans; they can basically touch the car in the paddock because they can get so close.”
Endurance ambitions extend well beyond the Nordschleife
The Dutchman made clear that this weekend is not intended as a one-off. He told media that the F1 calendar is the main constraint on how much endurance racing he can do.
“I want to do more, of course, but it also depends a bit on the [F1] calendar,” he said. “For example, if there was a free weekend for the 24 hours of Spa, I would have done that already this year as well. So it’s just whatever allows me to race; I would love to do so.”
His ambitions in long-distance racing have attracted wider attention. Ford and Verstappen have held confirmed discussions about a potential future entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though no deal has been announced.
For now, the Nürburgring holds his full attention. The race starts on Saturday, May 16, at 3 p.m. local time. Fans can follow it live on Red Bull TV and YouTube.
