Mercedes, “assist” to Verstappen for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring

Mercedes helps Verstappen Max Verstappen, as we know, doesn’t just think about Formula 1, but has also broadened his horizons to covered wheels and GT3s, with the (not even so hidden) dream of racing and winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The four-time world champion, planning his 2026 campaign, has expressed his intention to participate in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, but there is an obstacle blocking his way. And the one to remove him could be Mercedes, his great rival among the curbs of the World Championship but an ally of his GT3 team. Verstappen’s team will take to the track with a Mercedes-AMG GT3 supported by 2 Seas Motorsport, but could do so without the Dutch champion. The reason lies in the intersections of the Formula 1 calendar with that of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) races: the problem does not so much concern the 24 Hours (which takes place on 16 and 17 May and “falls” between the Miami GP and the Montreal GP), but rather the mandatory preparation race; all NLS races prior to the 24 Hours (March 14, March 28, April 11) coincide with an F1 race weekend. And therefore, according to our German colleagues at Motorsport Total, some prominent members of Mercedes, including CEO Ola Kallenius and team principal Toto Wolff, have contacted the circuit bosses to ask for a rescheduling of the races, which would pave the way for Verstappen’s participation in the 24 Hours. NLS boss Mike Jager confirmed Mercedes’ request, but no decision has yet been made. An interested assist? During 2024, Verstappen’s name was insistently linked to Mercedes, in a context marked by strong internal tensions in Red Bull. The Brackley team, left “orphaned” by Lewis Hamilton, tried to attack the champion, who however decided to remain in Milton Keynes, where the atmosphere has calmed down especially after Chris Horner’s farewell. The talks with Wolff were admitted by Verstappen himself, who however considers Red Bull a family from which it is not easy to break away, not even if he received an uncompetitive car with the new technical cycle. Wolff, for his part, is always vigilant on the market, and perhaps Verstappen is the only driver on the grid who would do anything crazy to have him on the team.