Max Verstappen’s participation in the Nurburgring 24 Hours hinges on a date for the NLS, with Mercedes advocating for his entry into this endurance race.
The announcement by Winward, indicating its commitment to compete in the 24-hour race at the Nordschleife as the Mercedes-AMG Performance Team, marks a significant advance in Verstappen’s plans. Although only the sister car was initially showcased, the project involving Verstappen is now reaching a crucial stage.
As reported by Autosport’s affiliate Motorsport-Total.com, Verstappen has secured approval for this venture not just from Mercedes and the Red Bull Formula 1 team, but also from the broader Red Bull organization. The final obstacle for his participation at the Nurburgring remains whether he can race in one of the preparatory events, a requirement for the four-time world champion.
NLS Boss Discusses Postponement Request
Mercedes-AMG has formally requested the NLS to delay the NLS1 race date. Currently, all three NLS events and two qualifying rounds before the 24-hour race coincide with the Formula 1 schedule.
While there have been rumors that a decision to postpone NLS1 has been made with only minor details pending, series director Mike Jager clarified: “The request for a possible postponement has now been submitted, but nothing definitive has been resolved.” He noted that numerous interests must be considered, including conflicts with other racing series’ dates. If NLS1 is postponed, it could move to 21 March, weather permitting, aligning it with the weekend between the F1 races in China and Japan.
Verstappen’s Team Choices for the 24-Hour Race
What does Verstappen’s AMG strategy for the Nurburgring 24 Hours entail? It appears he is curating his own team from Mercedes-AMG partners.
Verstappen reportedly aims to include DTM runner-up Lucas Auer, who excelled as the top AMG driver in the 2025 standings. Their familiarity stems from past competition in the 2014 Formula 3 European Championship. Additionally, sim racer Chris Lulham and factory driver Jules Gounon, who provided a reference during Verstappen’s AMG tests in Estoril, are also seen as potential team members.
Potential Exclusions from Verstappen’s AMG Lineup
Juncadella, a former AMG driver and now part of the Genesis hypercar team, has a special relationship with Verstappen as a fellow sim racing enthusiast and is believed to be a trusted advisor in this project.
However, Verstappen is rumored to be excluding Maro Engel from his lineup. Despite Engel’s reputation as one of the quickest drivers on the Nordschleife, tensions between him and Verstappen erupted on social media following Verstappen’s initial Nurburgring test, where Engel suggested that performance advantages were achieved due to favorable balance in DTM conditions.
Verstappen Prepares Ahead of Race
Though final approval for this venture is still uncertain, Verstappen is ensuring he is well-prepared. He recently completed additional testing in the Mercedes-AMG GT3, used by 2 Seas in Portimao, to acclimate himself with the vehicle.
In fact, even with an impending commitment to Red Bull’s F1 2026 livery launch in Detroit, he remains focused on his training. His experience in varied weather conditions in Algarve, which resemble those in the Eifel region, could prove advantageous.
