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Why Max Verstappen is not racing in NLS3 this weekend
Max Verstappen’s GT outings at the Nurburgring will not include this weekend’s NLS3
Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen will not take part in the latest round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, scheduled for this weekend.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion made his GT racing debut last Autumn, taking part in NLS9 at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife in an Emil Frey-run Ferrari.
Max Verstappen guided the Red Bull-liveried Ferrari to a maiden victory in his first time of asking, as he set his sights on a first appearance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Plans were put in place earlier this year to allow that to happen, with the Dutchman’s Team Verstappen partnering with Winward Racing to run a Red Bull-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3.
NLS organisers, following lobbying from Mercedes and Toto Wolff, moved NLS2 to the weekend between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix to allow Verstappen to compete.
This was thought to be a requirement of his before committing to a 24 Hours entry.
Partnering with Joules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, Verstappen qualified on pole for NLS2 last month and went on to help the No.3 car take victory.
However, the car was later disqualified due to a tyre usage error.
What are Verstappen’s Nurburgring plans in April?
Following the NLS2 race, Verstappen says he was evaluating an entry into NLS3, with F1’s April Middle Eastern races cancelled due to the war in Iran.
However, at the Japanese Grand Prix, he confirmed that he will not be taking part in NLS3 on Saturday 11 April.
This is because the No.3 Mercedes car he drove with Gounon and Juncadella is competing in the opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard this weekend.
However, he will return to the wheel of the No.3 Mercedes for the Nurburgring 24 qualifiers on the weekend of 18-19 April, ahead of the 24-hour enduro in May.
Verstappen will tackle the qualifiers with Lucas Auer. Juncadella and Gounon will not be able to participate due to their FIA World Endurance Championship commitments at Imola.
The 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours will feature a full 150-car entry list, with Verstappen fever prompting increased interest in the event.
Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will make his GT racing debut this weekend at the GTWCE season-opener at Paul Ricard.
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Max Verstappen’s GT outings at the Nurburgring will not include this weekend’s NLS3
Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen will not take part in the latest round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, scheduled for this weekend.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion made his GT racing debut last Autumn, taking part in NLS9 at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife in an Emil Frey-run Ferrari.
Max Verstappen guided the Red Bull-liveried Ferrari to a maiden victory in his first time of asking, as he set his sights on a first appearance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Plans were put in place earlier this year to allow that to happen, with the Dutchman’s Team Verstappen partnering with Winward Racing to run a Red Bull-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3.
NLS organisers, following lobbying from Mercedes and Toto Wolff, moved NLS2 to the weekend between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix to allow Verstappen to compete.
This was thought to be a requirement of his before committing to a 24 Hours entry.
Partnering with Joules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, Verstappen qualified on pole for NLS2 last month and went on to help the No.3 car take victory.
However, the car was later disqualified due to a tyre usage error.
What are Verstappen’s Nurburgring plans in April?
Following the NLS2 race, Verstappen says he was evaluating an entry into NLS3, with F1’s April Middle Eastern races cancelled due to the war in Iran.
However, at the Japanese Grand Prix, he confirmed that he will not be taking part in NLS3 on Saturday 11 April.
This is because the No.3 Mercedes car he drove with Gounon and Juncadella is competing in the opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard this weekend.
However, he will return to the wheel of the No.3 Mercedes for the Nurburgring 24 qualifiers on the weekend of 18-19 April, ahead of the 24-hour enduro in May.
Verstappen will tackle the qualifiers with Lucas Auer. Juncadella and Gounon will not be able to participate due to their FIA World Endurance Championship commitments at Imola.
The 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours will feature a full 150-car entry list, with Verstappen fever prompting increased interest in the event.
Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will make his GT racing debut this weekend at the GTWCE season-opener at Paul Ricard.
Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen will not take part in the latest round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, scheduled for this weekend.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion made his GT racing debut last Autumn, taking part in NLS9 at the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife in an Emil Frey-run Ferrari.
Max Verstappen guided the Red Bull-liveried Ferrari to a maiden victory in his first time of asking, as he set his sights on a first appearance at the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Plans were put in place earlier this year to allow that to happen, with the Dutchman’s Team Verstappen partnering with Winward Racing to run a Red Bull-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3.
NLS organisers, following lobbying from Mercedes and Toto Wolff, moved NLS2 to the weekend between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix to allow Verstappen to compete.
This was thought to be a requirement of his before committing to a 24 Hours entry.
Partnering with Joules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, Verstappen qualified on pole for NLS2 last month and went on to help the No.3 car take victory.
However, the car was later disqualified due to a tyre usage error.
What are Verstappen’s Nurburgring plans in April?
Following the NLS2 race, Verstappen says he was evaluating an entry into NLS3, with F1’s April Middle Eastern races cancelled due to the war in Iran.
However, at the Japanese Grand Prix, he confirmed that he will not be taking part in NLS3 on Saturday 11 April.
This is because the No.3 Mercedes car he drove with Gounon and Juncadella is competing in the opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe at Paul Ricard this weekend.
However, he will return to the wheel of the No.3 Mercedes for the Nurburgring 24 qualifiers on the weekend of 18-19 April, ahead of the 24-hour enduro in May.
Verstappen will tackle the qualifiers with Lucas Auer. Juncadella and Gounon will not be able to participate due to their FIA World Endurance Championship commitments at Imola.
The 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours will feature a full 150-car entry list, with Verstappen fever prompting increased interest in the event.
Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will make his GT racing debut this weekend at the GTWCE season-opener at Paul Ricard.
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