Max Verstappen Reveals Major Issue Blocking 24-Hour Race Debut

Max Verstappen has revealed a major obstacle that could prevent him from making his long-anticipated debut in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, despite the event not directly clashing with the Formula 1 race calendar.

The four-time world champion has been clear that his racing career will not be confined solely to Formula 1. The Red Bull Racing driver has repeatedly expressed a strong desire to compete in endurance racing, particularly in GT categories and iconic 24-hour events.

Verstappen’s passion for GT racing is well established. In addition to running his own programme, Verstappen.com Racing, much of his time away from Formula 1 is spent testing a variety of GT3 machinery, building experience outside the single-seater world.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Verstappen reflected on his recent winter break and his continued involvement in GT racing.

“During the winter break I was able to rest a bit, but it was nice to get back on track with the GT3s, cars I love,” Verstappen said.

Despite that enthusiasm, Verstappen stressed that Formula 1 remains his primary focus for now, even as he lays the groundwork for a future in endurance racing.

“At the moment I don’t set myself any concrete goals, because my focus as a driver is on Formula 1,” he explained.
“But I want to grow my team and not lose the passion for endurance racing.”

Last year, Verstappen used gaps in the Formula 1 calendar to enter multiple rounds of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) in the GT4 class. The primary objective was to obtain the mandatory licence required to compete in GT3 machinery on the full Nürburgring Nordschleife layout.

After securing that licence, Verstappen progressed immediately to a competitive GT3 outing in a subsequent NLS race, where he claimed a dominant victory. The sequence of steps has been widely viewed as part of a structured pathway towards a future 24-hour race appearance.

Verstappen has made it clear that his endurance ambitions extend well beyond the Nürburgring.

“I definitely want to drive the 24 Hours of Le Mans and all the other iconic races in endurance racing,” the Dutch driver added.

However, he emphasised that any move into endurance events must be carefully managed and competitive in intent.

“I want to do it step by step, without rushing, and without realising later that the commitments I’ve made—both personally and with my team—are too big to live up to,” he said.

“If I do something in motor racing, I don’t want to do it just to be there; I want to be competitive. Always.”

For the current season, Verstappen has already ruled out an appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as the event clashes directly with Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix. While the Nürburgring 24 Hours does not overlap with an F1 race weekend, another significant problem remains.

The endurance classic is scheduled to take place one week before the Canadian Grand Prix, and Verstappen insists that proper preparation is non-negotiable if he is to compete. That requirement has created a major complication.

All of the NLS preparation races leading up to the 24-hour event clash with Formula 1 race weekends, effectively denying Verstappen the opportunity to complete the necessary build-up.

When asked directly whether he will race in this year’s 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, Verstappen offered a cautious response.

“At the moment it’s very difficult to give an answer,” Verstappen said.

“I would like to drive that race well prepared, and the preparation races clash with Formula 1. So only if something changes will I be able to compete this year.”

Until that calendar conflict is resolved, Verstappen’s Nürburgring 24 Hours debut remains uncertain. For now, Formula 1 commitments continue to take priority, with endurance racing ambitions placed firmly on a carefully managed, longer-term trajectory.