Max Verstappen’s participation in the Nurburgring 24 Hours event is contingent upon an NLS fixture, and Mercedes is actively working to secure his spot in the enduring competition.
With Winward’s declaration of its intent to participate in the Nordschleife 24-hour race as the Mercedes-AMG Performance Team, another crucial element has been established for Verstappen’s anticipated appearance. Despite only the companion vehicle being initially unveiled, the initiative involving Verstappen is now entering its critical stage.
Information obtained by Autosport’s sister publication, Motorsport-Total.com, indicates that Verstappen has received approval for this undertaking not only from Mercedes and the Red Bull Formula 1 team but also from the overarching Red Bull corporation. The last obstacle to his Nurburgring involvement is now whether he can compete in one of the mandatory preliminary races, a prerequisite for the four-time world champion.
Speculation suggests that Mercedes is exerting significant influence; Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius and motorsport director Toto Wolff reportedly advocated for the rescheduling of the NLS season opener from March 14, as it currently conflicts with the Chinese Grand Prix.
Head of NLS regarding rescheduling: ‘A formal request has been lodged’
Mercedes-AMG has formally asked the NLS organization to shift the NLS1 race date. Presently, all three NLS races and both qualifying events preceding the 24-hour competition coincide with the Formula 1 schedule.
Reports indicating that the postponement of NLS1 is already confirmed, with only minor details needing resolution, have been refuted by series chief Mike Jager, who stated: “The plea for a potential deferral has been submitted, but nothing beyond that.”
This situation arises because various stakeholders’ interests must be considered, for instance, a different racing series has reserved certain dates. Should NLS1 be rescheduled, it would move by one week, to March 21. If weather conditions in the Eifel permit, the race would then take place during the weekend separating the F1 events in China and Japan.
Jager remarked, “We are currently investigating this, but no decision has been made yet. It needs to be agreeable to everyone.”
Verstappen Racing
For the 24-hour contest: Which AMG drivers will Verstappen opt for?
What is Verstappen’s AMG strategy for the Nurburgring 24 Hours? The Dutch driver is reportedly hand-picking his Mercedes-AMG team collaborators.
Verstappen is believed to favor DTM vice-champion Lucas Auer, who emerged as the top AMG driver in the 2025 standings. The two share a familiarity, having been rivals in the 2014 Formula 3 European Championship, where Verstappen secured third place and Auer finished fourth.
Another strong contender is sim racer Chris Lulham, with whom Verstappen achieved his NLS victory in the Emil Frey Ferrari. Mercedes factory driver Jules Gounon, who provided a benchmark for Verstappen during the AMG trials in Estoril, and seasoned driver Daniel Juncadella are also rumored to be part of the arrangements.
Verstappen’s rejection of Engel?
Juncadella holds a distinctive position within the initiative: the former AMG driver, slated to drive a Genesis hypercar in the 2026 World Endurance Championship, also shares a strong friendship with Verstappen due to their mutual enthusiasm for sim racing and is considered his trusted advisor regarding AMG expertise.
However, one individual Verstappen purportedly wishes to exclude is Maro Engel. Despite the 40-year-old being one of the quickest drivers on the Nordschleife, a public dispute erupted between the two on social media following Verstappen’s initial Nurburgring test – Engel asserted that the leading lap times were achieved under a more advantageous balance of performance from the DTM series.
Verstappen test-drove Mercedes a day prior to Ford’s unveiling
Engel is slated to co-drive his Winward Mercedes, featuring a Ravenol livery that even his father contributed to, alongside factory drivers Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, and Maxime Martin. Verstappen’s vehicle – should the project proceed – will compete under the banner of Verstappen.com Racing. Haribo could also serve as a sponsor for this endeavor.
Even though the final approval for the project remains outstanding, Verstappen is meticulously preparing: on Tuesday and Wednesday, the F1 ace accumulated additional track time in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 utilized by 2 Seas at Portimao to familiarize himself with the car.
Not even the expectation of his presence at Red Bull’s F1 2026 livery debut in Detroit on Thursday could deter him. And his dedication might yield benefits: Verstappen encountered both wet and dry track conditions in the Algarve, quite similar to those found in the Eifel region.
