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If you thought Max Verstappen would take a weekend off to brood over Red Bull's current performance woes in Formula 1, you clearly don't know Max. Less than 48 hours after a frustrating P8 finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, the Dutchman was already back in the cockpit---but not a single-seater.
Verstappen has officially confirmed his entry into the 2026 24h Qualifiers at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Trading the RB22 for a Mercedes-AMG GT3, the four-time F1 champion is proving once again that he is a racing purist who simply cannot stay away from the "Green Hell."
Verstappen isn't just there to make up the numbers; he has specific technical "itch" he needs to scratch. After his victory was famously revoked at the 58th ADAC Barbarossa Prize earlier this year, Max expressed a desire to master the Nordschleife in two specific conditions: rain and darkness.
He's already ticked the "rain" box during recent tests. Now, the 24h Qualifiers will provide the "darkness." With Saturday's race ending at 9:30 PM and the sun setting at 8:30 PM, Verstappen is expected to take the final stint, giving him a full hour of high-speed navigation through the Eifel forest in partial night-time conditions.
With regular teammates Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella occupied with the WEC 6 Hours of Imola this same weekend, Verstappen will share the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Lucas Auer.
This is a strategic move for the team. Auer is a seasoned Nordschleife specialist, and this weekend ensures Verstappen will have competed with all three of his intended teammates before the main 24-hour race later this summer.
For fans wanting to see if Verstappen can translate his F1 precision to the most dangerous track in the world, here is how you can follow the action:
Official Live Stream: The races will be broadcast for free on the official 24h Nürburgring YouTube channel and the NLS (Nürburgring Endurance Series) website.
On-Board Cameras: Expect a dedicated on-board stream for Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG GT3, often hosted by specialized sim-racing or motorsport portals.
Mark your calendars. All times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST).
Friday, April 17, 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026
8:30 AM -- 10:00 AM: Qualifying (Race 1)
5:30 PM -- 9:30 PM: Race 1 (240 min.) --- Watch for Verstappen in the final hour of darkness!
Sunday, April 19, 2026
8:15 AM -- 9:45 AM: Qualifying (Race 2)
10:40 AM -- 11:40 AM: Top Qualifying (The Shootout)
1:00 PM -- 5:00 PM: Race 2 (240 min.)
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.