Four-Time Champion Max Verstappen Confirmed for Nurburgring 24 Hours Debut with Factory-Backed Mercedes Team

F1 champion Max Verstappen joins Mercedes-AMG factory team Winward for his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut this May alongside a star-studded GT3 driver lineup.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 6:49 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Motorsport.com

A Historic Cross-Manufacturer Partnership for the Green Hell

The endurance racing landscape has been shifted by the confirmation that Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time Formula 1 world champion, will compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours driving for Mercedes. While Verstappen remains the cornerstone of Red Bull’s formula 1 efforts, he will represent the Verstappen Racing banner in a factory-supported Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3. This rare collaboration between the driver’s primary sponsor and a rival automotive giant marks one of the most high-profile entries in the history of the German endurance event, scheduled for May 14 through 17.

Elite Driver Lineup Assembled for the Number Three Entry

To bolster Verstappen’s transition to the grueling Nordschleife circuit, Mercedes-AMG has surrounded him with a wealth of factory expertise. The #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 will be shared with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella, the latter of whom recently signed with the Genesis Hypercar program. Both Gounon and Juncadella bring established chemistry from their partnership in the GT World Challenge Europe series. This collective experience is intended to offset Verstappen's relative lack of seat time in GT3 machinery on this specific 25-kilometer layout.

Strategic Calendar Adjustments to Facilitate Preparation

The path to the 24-hour race involved complex logistical coordination to avoid conflicts with the 2026 Formula 1 season. At the request of Mercedes, the NLS2 preparatory race was rescheduled to March 21, moving it forward by one week. This change was essential to prevent a clash with the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, which was originally set for the same weekend as the NLS event. Verstappen reportedly insisted on completing at least one competitive outing in the early part of the year to ensure he met the readiness requirements for the main event in May.