Mercedes Lobbies to Reschedule NLS Race for Verstappen's Nürburgring Entry

Mercedes is pulling out all the stops to secure Max Verstappen's entry for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, moving beyond simple interest to actively lobby for a change in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) calendar. With every remaining NLS date clashing with the Formula 1 schedule, the manufacturer is seeking a one-week postponement of the season opener to create a narrow window between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.

Why it matters:

This move underscores the immense value Mercedes places on having the four-time F1 champion in their factory-backed GT3 effort. It highlights the complex logistical and political hurdles in modern motorsport, where even elite drivers must navigate significant bureaucracy to compete outside their primary series.

The details:

• The Calendar Clash: The current NLS schedule conflicts directly with the Chinese Grand Prix, leaving Verstappen with no free weekend to complete the mandatory qualifying race for the 24-hour event.
• Top-Level Lobbying: The lobbying effort has reached the highest levels, with Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius and motorsport boss Toto Wolff backing the request to shift the race date.
• Series Response: NLS boss Mike Jäger confirmed the request but poured cold water on the idea that a deal is imminent, noting that other championships and logistics must be considered.

Between the lines:

While the calendar battle rages in boardrooms, Verstappen is actively preparing his assault on the Nordschleife. He is personally curating his driver lineup for the Winward Racing entry, reportedly targeting DTM rival Lucas Auer alongside sim-racer Chris Lulham and endurance veteran Daniel Juncadella. Verstappen has also logged significant mileage in the AMG GT3 during private tests at Portimão, deliberately running in mixed conditions to simulate the Eifel weather.

What's next:

The ball is now in the NLS organizers' court. Without a date change, Verstappen's participation remains in jeopardy despite having cleared all other internal hurdles with Red Bull and Mercedes.