Max Verstappen to race Mercedes at Nurburgring 24 Hours
Max Verstappen will compete in the 2025 Nurburgring 24 Hours, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the factory-backed Winward team under his own 'Verstappen Racing' banner. He'll team up with experienced Mercedes drivers and will first race in a preparatory NLS event later this month, with the date specially adjusted to fit his F1 schedule.
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will make his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut this May, driving a factory-supported Mercedes-AMG GT3. The Red Bull Racing star will join a top-tier driver lineup under the 'Verstappen Racing' banner, with the team scheduling a preparatory race later this month to ensure he is ready for the grueling endurance classic.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's participation is a major coup for the event and Mercedes, marking a rare crossover where a current top-tier F1 champion competes in one of the world's most demanding GT races. It highlights the growing appeal of top-level endurance racing for F1 drivers and brings immense star power to the Nordschleife, potentially drawing a global audience to the German classic.
The details:
- Verstappen will drive the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the Winward team, running under the 'Verstappen Racing' name.
- He will be joined by a formidable lineup of Mercedes factory talent: Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella, all with extensive Nordschleife experience.
- To prepare, the quartet will compete in the NLS2 race on March 21st. The date of this preparatory event was specifically moved forward a week at Mercedes' request to avoid a clash with the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, accommodating Verstappen's F1 commitments.
- This will be only Verstappen's second race on the Nordschleife, following a one-off appearance in an Emil Frey Ferrari last November.
- Mercedes will field two top 'Performance Teams' run by Winward. The second car, the #80 Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL entry, will be driven by Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz.
What's next:
The focus now shifts to an intensive testing program in Southern Europe, which Mercedes states has already begun, to extract maximum performance from the GT3 car. All eyes will be on Verstappen's adaptation to the car and the circuit during the NLS2 race later this month, setting the stage for his highly anticipated 24-hour race debut in May. Mercedes is aiming for its first Nurburgring 24H victory since 2016.