Verstappen eyes Nürburgring 24 Hours return and calls F1 calendar accommodation "logical"

Unfinished business on the Nordschleife

Max Verstappen has made clear he intends to return to the Nürburgring 24 Hours, describing it as the obvious next step after a debut outing that ended in mechanical heartbreak rather than the victory he had been chasing.

"Yes, absolutely. That was always the goal, of course," Verstappen told Viaplay when asked whether the result had sharpened his appetite for another attempt. "This is just the beginning. It would have been nice if we had won that race straight away, because the chance was very big."

Calendar alignment in focus

The logistical question of whether Verstappen can compete again is already looking favourable. The Nürburgring has confirmed that the 2027 edition of its flagship race will take place on the weekend of May 29 and 30, and reports so far suggest there will be no conflict with the Formula 1 calendar — though that schedule has yet to be officially published.

When pressed on whether he holds any influence over how the F1 calendar is shaped to allow his participation, the 28-year-old was characteristically measured. "Not power, but I think it would be nice and logical if that were possible," he said — before adding a note of caution: "Well, we'll see. I don't know."

The comments reflect Verstappen's growing ambition beyond the F1 paddock, channelling the same competitive drive that has defined his grand prix career. Having claimed Red Bull's first podium of the 2026 season at the Canadian Grand Prix, the Dutchman is clearly hungry on multiple fronts — and the Nordschleife, it seems, is very much on his radar.