Purple Bull F1 driver Max Verstappen will return to the Nurburgring this month to participate in 24-hour qualifying in a Mercedes.
The four-time F1 world champion made his skilled GT racing debut on the iconic observe final yr, successful with Ferrari, and can make his first look on the Nurburgring 24 Hours in Could.
As a part of the preparations for the occasion, Verstappen took half within the second spherical of the Nürburgring Langstäcken Serie (NLS2) on the weekend between the Chinese language and Japanese Grand Prix (though NLS1 was canceled attributable to dangerous climate).
Verstappen piloted the Winward-operated Mercedes-AMG GT3 automotive alongside Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella to pole place and victory in NLS2, however was later stripped of the No. 3 entry attributable to tire infringement.
The Dutchman will return to the Nürburgring for N24 qualifying on the weekend of April 18-19, when the canceled Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was scheduled to happen.
Qualifying will encompass two four-hour races, with Verstappen competing alongside Lucas Auer.
Teammates Gounon and Juncadella will likely be absent from the race attributable to their participation within the FIA World Endurance Championship in Imola.
Verstappen is not going to be collaborating in subsequent weekend’s NLS3 because the crew will compete within the opening spherical of GT World Problem Europe at Paul Ricard.
Earlier on Thursday, it was introduced that Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will make his GTWCE debut subsequent weekend.
Verstappen has lamented the present F1 rules and his exploits on the Nürburgring have attracted plenty of consideration.
The Dutchman has repeatedly stated he’s rigorously contemplating his future in F1 as he doesn’t benefit from the present guidelines.
After the Japanese Grand Prix, the strongest report back to date emerged that Verstappen might retire from F1.
It has been a troublesome begin to the 2026 season for Purple Bull with a brand new engine partnership with Ford, however Verstappen insists this has nothing to do along with his present frustrations.
