Max Verstappen's ambition to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours is gaining momentum following a calendar adjustment that clears the way for his participation in a preparatory race. The four-time Formula 1 World Champion has expressed his desire to participate in the iconic endurance race, and organizers are working to accommodate his schedule.

The key obstacle has been scheduling conflicts between Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends and the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) events, which serve as qualifying races for the 24-hour race. With the Nürburgring 24 Hours scheduled for May 16-17, every NLS round before it clashed with a Formula 1 race. Initially, organizers considered moving NLS1, set for March 14 and coinciding with the Chinese Grand Prix, but this proved unfeasible.

Attention then shifted to NLS2, originally scheduled for March 28, which clashed with the Japanese Grand Prix. Following discussions, a solution was found: moving NLS2 forward by one week to March 21. This adjustment was facilitated by a calendar change from the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN), another series held on the Nordschleife. "The start of the 2026 season of the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) will be slightly delayed," the organizers stated. "The first RCN event will now take place on Saturday, 28 March 2026, following a change of date. The RCN responded to the wishes of the ADAC Ravenol Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) and the ADAC, which had revised their season schedule at short notice".

The rescheduling of NLS2 to March 21 now allows Verstappen to participate in the race. He is expected to drive a Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 car. While Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon are expected to be in Qatar for the WEC Prologue on March 21, Lucas Auer may partner with Verstappen for the NLS2 event.

Mercedes executives, including Toto Wolff, played a role in the NLS's decision to move the date of NLS2 from March 28 to March 21. The NLS released a statement saying: “We are shifting gears for the sport and our region! To maximise international participation, NLS2 has been moved forward to March 21". “This adjustment leverages a gap in the F1 calendar between the Grands Prix in China and Japan". “By aligning with the international racing schedule, we enable top-tier drivers to compete in the NLS". “This move increases our global reach to the benefit of all teams, participants, and the entire Nurburgring region".

Verstappen's participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours would generate significant interest, as demonstrated by the increased media attention and fan presence at last year's NLS event where he competed. While the schedule change doesn't guarantee Verstappen will race in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, it is a significant step in that direction. Verstappen has stated that he only wants to race the 24 Hours if he can participate in a smaller event beforehand. He has already tested the Winward Racing Mercedes GT3 car.

Red Bull and Mercedes have approved Max Verstappen's participation in the Winward Racing Mercedes GT3 car.