Max Verstappen Will Make His Debut in an Official Race on the Nordschleife This Weekend. The Four-Time Formula 1 World Champion Will Compete in the Nürburgring Langstrecken series (NLS) AS Preparation for a Possible Participation in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring.
The NLS is A Series of Long-Dristance Races on the More Than 25-kilometer-long Nordschleife. Verstappen will be in Action on Saturday Duration NLS7, in the only free weekend the Grands Prix of Italy and Azerbaijan. This is the next step Towards the 24-hour classic, which would like to drive in the future.
Earlier This Year, Verstappen Already Appeared on the Nordschleife, then under the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’. He then drove a ferrari gt3 from emil frey racing and equally improved the lap record for that type of car.
This Weekend, Verstappen Will Drive for Lionspeed GP in a Porsche Cayman GT4. That class is less powerful than the gt3 cars in which the 24 hours are traditional run, but participation in a gt4 is a mandatory step within the nordschleife Licensing System. Drivers Must First Gain Experience in Such A Lighter Car Before they are Allowed to Start in The Stronger GT3 Cars.
The Nordschleife is Known As One of the Most Difficult circuits in the World, With Numerous Bends, Height Differences and Narrow Sections. Verstappen Already Knew The Track Well from Sim Racing, but is now twaking the next step in real races.
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Verstappen Unlikely to Win
A Participation of Verstappen in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring in 2026 Seems Realistic. That year the classic falls in mid-May, Without Overlap With the Formula 1 Calendar. For Verstappen it would be a new challenge besides his f1 career.
A Victory This Weekend is excluded. Newcomers to the Nordschleife have to drive in a reduced car accordance to the regulations, so that the power-to-weight ratio remains within the allowed margin.
As a result, Verstappen also has no chance of winning in his own class. For Him, it is Mainly about Completing the Mandatory Laps Flawlesly, so that he is eligible for a highher license and can later also drive in the GT3.
There has been some secrecy about his participation in recent days. His name is not on the official list of participants. But his porsche has already leg spotted in the paddock on Friday, including Red Bull and Verstappen Logos.
The Qualification for NLS7 Starts on Saturday at 8.30 am, the racing starts at 12.00 pm. The event can be followed live via YouTube.