Max Verstappen has confirmed he will compete in his first endurance race at this year’s 24 Hours of the Nurburgring – an announcement which comes hot on the heels of his complaints about the state of F1 at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The four-time F1 world champion will compete for his Verstappen Racing outfit, in co-operation with Mercedes customer team Winward Racing, in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car, completing a four-strong line-up that also consists of Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer.
The race at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit will be Verstappen’s first 24-hour endurance event, although he has long made no secret of his desire to compete in the format.
It takes place from 14-17 May, the weekend before the Canadian Grand Prix and two weeks after the previous F1 race in Miami. The Dutchman will also warm up by competing in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) race on the Nordschleife on 21 March.
That is the second weekend of NLS racing, with the first round clashing with the Chinese Grand Prix this upcoming weekend. Verstappen’s F1 commitments also mean he won’t be available for the qualifying round of the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring on 18-19 April.
That weekend is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which is now in severe doubt due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, meaning Verstappen’s availability could yet open up. F1 are expected to decide on whether to cancel the Saudi GP, and any potential replacement races, in the next couple of weeks.
“The Nurburgring is a special place,” said Verstappen in a press release confirming his entry into the race. “There’s no other track like it.
“The 24h Nurburgring is a race that’s been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m really thrilled we can make it happen now.”
Verstappen does have success at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in his locker already, having won a GT3 race there last year in a car shared with Chris Lulham.
“Last year, I was able to get my DMSB Permit Nordschleife and participate in NLS9 that we won,” added Verstappen. “That preparation is very valuable, as we have learned a lot that we can take into our program this year with NLS2 and the 24-hour race.
“We’ve got a strong line-up with Dani, Jules and Lucas and great support from Red Bull and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. Now it’s about putting in the right preparations before the events, so we can maximise everything in the races.”
Verstappen’s decision to race comes straight after he voiced complaints about the new era of F1 that began in Melbourne this weekend.
The sport’s controversial new regulations – including mandating drivers to manage battery power and utilise a boost button for overtakes – came into force at Albert Park, with many drivers frustrated at how artificial it made racing.
Verstappen produced an impressive drive in his Red Bull after qualifying 20th, ultimately surging through the field to finish sixth, but wasn’t happy with how racing looked.
“If you enjoy that, then okay, but that’s what I do at home when I play Mario Kart,” said the four-time world champion derisively. “For me, I didn’t enjoy the way we raced. It is not really proper.”
He also refused to rule out quitting F1 in the long term if the rules – including energy management, which he previously described as “Formula E on steroids” – aren’t changed.
“It was chaos. I honestly don’t really find the right words for it,” he explained. “I think for me, of course, I passed them [other cars] regardless, because we are two seconds faster.
“But what they [governing body, the FIA] should worry about is the rules. Just focus on that. They ask questions, and I give my opinion of what I would like to see, what I think is better for the sport, because I do care about it. I do love racing, and I want it to be better than this, right?”
Asked if he really was considering walking away from the sport, he replied: “I love racing, but it can only take so much, right?
“They’re willing to listen, FIA and F1, I just hope, of course, that there is some action. Because I’m not the only one saying it, a lot of people are speaking the same, drivers, fans, we just want the best for the sport, we’re critical for a reason.
“We want it to be Formula One, Formula One on steroids. Today, of course, that was not the case. I’m very negative about the rule,s but I do feel really proud of the team on the engine side. They’ve done an amazing job, very happy to be working with them. I just wish I enjoyed a little bit more driving-wise.”
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