Max Verstappen says he intends to return to the Nurburgring 24 Hours after a late reliability issue ended his team’s bid for victory at the iconic German endurance race.
Verstappen, alongside teammates Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella and Lucas Auer, had been leading in their Mercedes-AMG GT3 when a driveshaft problem with about three hours and 20 minutes remaining forced them out of contention. Juncadella managed to bring the car back to the garage, but severe vibrations had caused extensive damage and the team needed nearly the rest of the race to repair it, leaving them only able to complete a final parade lap at the finish.
The Nurburgring 24 was one of Verstappen’s main targets outside of Formula 1 this year; he has previously named the 24 Hours of Le Mans as another endurance event he would like to contest. “I like the competition and the endurance style racing where you share with team-mates,” Verstappen said, adding that “the 24-Hour race here… the track is super challenging, so the whole combination [I enjoy].” When asked whether he would return next year, he replied: “I will for sure try. It always depends a bit on my schedule.”
This year 161 cars entered the 15.769-mile Nürburgring circuit, the layout famously dubbed “The Green Hell” by three-time F1 world champion Jackie Stewart. The event featured 23 different classes, with Verstappen racing in the top GT3 category alongside some of the fastest cars on the grid, including Mercedes-AMG GT3, Porsche 911 GT3 R, BMW M4 GT3, Ferrari 296 GT3 and Lamborghini Huracan GT3 machinery.
Verstappen played a key role in getting his car into the lead, producing bold overtakes during his first stint on Saturday afternoon and then engaging in a close battle overnight with the sister #80 Mercedes, which ultimately took the win. Several experienced GT3 drivers praised the Dutch world champion for his ability to navigate heavy traffic and pick clean opportunities to pass.
Reflecting on his final stint before the mechanical trouble, Verstappen said: “My stint was good. Back in the daylight, I was trying to keep it safe while, of course maintaining a decent pace. The car was working well and I just tried to stay out of trouble.” He remains keen to return to endurance racing when his Formula 1 schedule allows.
Formula 1 now moves on to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend, while Verstappen’s endurance ambitions — including a possible future Le Mans entry — continue to draw interest from fans and fellow drivers alike.