---
title: "Max Verstappen Will Race a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring"
date: "2026-03-09"
modified: "2026-03-09"
authors:
  - name: "Andrew P. Collins"
    job_title: "Executive Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/andrew-p-collins"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/max-verstappen-will-race-a-mercedes-amg-gt3-at-the-24-hours-of-nurburgring"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "F1"
  - "Mercedes-Benz News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "People"
  - "Racing"
---

# Max Verstappen Will Race a Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring

![Max Verstappen's 24 Hours of Green Hell car.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/verstappen-in-24-ring1.jpg>)
*\<em\>Red Bull\</em\>*

Four-time F1 world champion [Max Verstappen](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/one-risk-that-f1-champ-max-verstappen-is-not-willing-to-take-rally-racing>) is climbing into a [Mercedes-AMG](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/mercedes-amg-gt>) GT3 for the 2026 [24 Hours of Nürburgring](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20809/the-24-hours-of-the-nrburgring-is-the-greenest-sort-of-hell>) this May. Speculation about him driving in this race has been floating around for some time, but today Red Bull made it official with a pretty fun sizzle reel where skydiver Max Manow [delivers him a steering wheel](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqU-PRQdgzQ>) inside of a nuclear power plant silo.

Verstappen will run with the factory-supported Winward team, running under the Verstappen Racing banner with number 3 on the door. Factory drivers Lucas Auer and Jules Gounon, plus Genesis Hypercar driver Daniel Juncadella, will be his teammates, according to a release from [Formula 1](<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/im-really-thrilled-we-can-make-it-happen-verstappen-to-make-nurburgring-24.40W7urdAiBznBXTESRyK1R>) and [*Motorsport.com*](<https://www.motorsport.com/NLS/news/max-verstappen-to-enter-nurburgring-24-hours-with-mercedes/10803632/>). There will also be a sister car, number 80, with Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz taking the wheel, per the [race website](<https://www.24h-rennen.de/en/2026/03/09/max-verstappen-2/>). Red Bull shared that the team will take part in several events before the race: NLS1, NLS2, and the 24-hour Nürburgring Qualifiers.

![Max Verstappen has confirmed that he will make his debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours in May with Mercedes.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/f1-max.avif?quality=85>)
**F1**

“The Nurburgring Nordschleife is a special place,” Verstappen said in a release on F1's website. “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."

“Last year, I was able to get my DMSB Permit Nordschleife and participate in NLS9, that we won. That preparation is very valuable, as we have learned a lot that we can take into our programme this year with NLS2 and the 24-hour race.”

> [View this post on Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVqAZ7zDOeI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

> [A post shared by Red Bull Motorsports (@redbullmotorsports)](<https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVqAZ7zDOeI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

[Red Bull](<https://www.redbull.com/int-en/max-verstappen-24h-nurburgring-2026#:~:text=At%20over%2025km%20in%20length,in%20the%20world%20of%20motorsport.&text=To%20participate%2C%20all%20drivers%20require,fans%20flocked%20to%20the%20Nordschleife.>) posted that "The starting field at the Nürgburgring 24 Hours is more diverse than almost any other endurance race. In addition to works-supported GT3 teams, more than 130 vehicles compete in more than 20 classes."

![24h Nürburgring track map.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/24h-Rennen-Lageplan-Nordschleife-1030x686-1.jpg>)
*Track map, including spectator camp sites. *24h Nürburgring**

Also in Red Bull's announcement is some good context on the race and track for those who are unfamiliar:

"At over 25 kilometers \[15.5 miles\] in length, the Nürburgring-Nordschleife is the longest permanent race track in the world. In the 24-hour race, the participants drive over the combined layout of the Nordschleife and GP circuit. This equates to a total of around 25.4 km per lap and an incredible 73 bends per lap."

"What makes the Nordschleife so unique is the difference in altitude of around 300 meters between the highest point on the Hohe Acht (approx. 620 meters above sea level) and the lowest point at Breidscheid (approx. 320 meters above sea level). This is unique for a permanent race track."

![Max Verstappen's GT3 car.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/max-manow-max-verstappen-24h-nuerburgring-reveal.avif?quality=85>)

![Max Verstappen's GT3 car.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/max-verstappen-mercedes-amg.avif?quality=85>)

![Max Verstappen's GT3 car.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/max-verstappen-24-nuerburgring-2026.avif?quality=85>)

This event, the 54th running of the [ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring](<https://www.24h-rennen.de/>), will take place May 14-17, 2026. Direct updates will likely appear first at the race's official "[experience online](<https://www.24h-rennen.de/en/experience-online/>)" page.

![Verstappen's Mercedes.](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/24h-177304197369ae7935-e8cd80-edited.jpg>)
**24h Nürburgring**

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## Author
As Executive Editor, Andrew touches everything on the site from daily news coverage to feature stories, sponsored content, product reviews, road testing vehicles, ecommerce, and more. He's held pretty much every role there is to have at an automotive news site and has been with The Drive's publisher Recurrent since 2020. Andrew's a lifetime gearhead and longtime writer with a particularly strong penchant for road trips, off-road adventures, and archaic vehicles. His passions outside of the automotive world include skiing, obsolete video games, and his dog Bramble who occationally helps review cars.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/andrewatlarge>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewpetercollins/>)