Max Verstappen will make his long-awaited debut at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring in 2026. The four-time Formula One world champion will take on one of the most demanding challenges in endurance racing when he lines up on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Often referred to as the “Green Hell,” the Nordschleife is widely regarded as one of the toughest circuits in the world. With more than 20 kilometers of narrow asphalt, over 150 corners and unpredictable weather conditions in the Eifel region, the track has earned its reputation as the ultimate test of driver skill, consistency and endurance.
For Verstappen, the race has been a long-standing goal. The Dutch driver has repeatedly expressed his fascination with the Nordschleife and endurance racing, making his entry into the Nürburgring 24 Hours a natural next step in his already remarkable motorsport career.
Verstappen will compete for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the highly competitive GT3 category. The car will carry the number #3, matching Verstappen’s race number in Oracle Red Bull Racing.
He will share driving duties with three highly experienced GT racers: Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella. All three drivers are part of the Mercedes-AMG performance roster and bring extensive endurance racing experience to the lineup.
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries for the race will be operated by Winward Racing. Alongside Verstappen’s entry, a second GT3 car will compete under the Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL banner. That car features another strong lineup consisting of Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz.
Together, these two GT3 entries form the spearhead of the Mercedes-AMG performance effort for the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, supported by several additional customer teams running AMG machinery.
Despite his Formula One success, Verstappen has taken a structured and professional approach to preparing for the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Competing on the Nordschleife requires a specific license and proven experience on the circuit, which every driver must obtain through the official qualification process.
In 2025, Verstappen successfully obtained his Nordschleife permit and began competing in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. During that season, he participated in NLS9 and secured a victory, gaining valuable real-world experience on the demanding circuit.
His preparation is set to continue in 2026 with another appearance in NLS2 ahead of the 24-hour race. This step-by-step approach allows Verstappen to build experience in traffic-heavy multi-class racing conditions, which are a defining element of the Nürburgring endurance classic.
Race director Walter Hornung emphasized that Verstappen completed the same qualification process as every other driver. This included mandatory e-learning modules and practical racing experience on the Nordschleife, ensuring he meets all requirements to compete safely on the challenging circuit.
Verstappen’s Nürburgring 24 Hours debut also carries major significance for the simracing world. The Dutch driver has long been one of the most prominent advocates for simulation racing, regularly participating in online endurance events with Team Redline.
Unlike many drivers who use simulators purely for private training, Verstappen actively competes in high-level esports events. These competitions often replicate real-world racing formats, including multi-class endurance races that mirror events like the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
In preparation for his real-world Nordschleife campaign, Verstappen spent countless hours practicing in the digital version of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie. This allowed him to familiarize himself with the circuit layout, traffic patterns and race dynamics long before entering the real event.
His approach highlights how simracing has evolved into a serious training tool within professional motorsport. For a track as long and complex as the Nordschleife, simulation provides drivers with an efficient way to learn the circuit and refine their racecraft in a realistic environment.
The involvement of a driver of Verstappen’s stature could further strengthen the relationship between simracing and real-world motorsport.
First, it demonstrates to racing teams that simulation platforms can be a valuable tool for driver preparation, especially for endurance races with complex traffic situations. This may encourage more teams to integrate high-end simulation into their development programs.
Second, esports competitions that replicate real-world championships could gain additional recognition as legitimate training environments. Digital series modeled after events like the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie already provide realistic racing conditions that closely resemble their real-world counterparts.
Finally, Verstappen’s participation may inspire more crossover between professional drivers and the simracing community. Collaborations between racing teams, esports organizations and simulation platforms could become increasingly common as the boundaries between digital and real racing continue to blur.
The organizers of the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring are also preparing a special ticket offer aimed at Verstappen’s large Dutch fanbase. Known as the “Oranje Army,” his supporters regularly travel in large numbers to major racing events across Europe.
More details about these dedicated fan packages are expected to be announced soon.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours has always been one of the most iconic endurance races in motorsport, attracting some of the world’s best drivers to tackle the unforgiving Nordschleife. With Max Verstappen joining the grid in 2026, the event is set to receive even greater international attention.
Beyond the excitement of seeing a four-time Formula One world champion compete in a GT3 endurance race, Verstappen’s participation represents something bigger for the motorsport community. His preparation through simracing and his long-standing involvement in esports demonstrate how closely connected virtual and real racing have become.
For simracers, it is a powerful validation of the discipline. The same platforms used daily by thousands of enthusiasts around the world are now also being used by elite drivers as part of their preparation for real-world endurance racing.
As the boundaries between digital and real motorsport continue to fade, Verstappen’s Nürburgring debut could become another milestone moment for both industries. The 2026 edition of the race will therefore not only be a major event on the endurance racing calendar, but also a fascinating example of how the future of motorsport is increasingly shaped by simulation technology.
