Max Verstappen to race at Nürburgring Nordschleife between Monza and Baku
Four-time world champion to contest Nürburgring Endurance Series in GT machinery after completing licence requirements, a move that fuels questions about his long-term future
Max Verstappen will compete on the Nürburgring Nordschleife in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) between the Formula One rounds at Monza and Baku, a surprise move that will fuel questions about the Dutch driver's long-term plans.
The four-time world champion, 27, is scheduled to take part in a preliminary outing in a Porsche Cayman GT4 for Lionspeed GP to secure the necessary permit and complete a mandatory safety course before returning to the 12.9-mile Nordschleife on September 27 with Emil Frey Racing in a Ferrari 296 GT3, according to reports.
The move follows comments Verstappen made in an interview with Daily Mail Sport in which he said he had "already achieved everything" he wanted in Formula One and that he could "happily walk away" at the end of his Red Bull contract, while also stressing that he remained committed to his current team. He has increasingly spoken publicly about interests outside F1, including sim racing and GT competition.
According to Auto Motor und Sport in Germany, Verstappen will travel to the Nürburgring immediately after claiming victory at Monza. Earlier this year, he drew attention during private running at the Nordschleife when he set an unofficial lap benchmark in a Ferrari GT3. The planned NLS appearances would mark his first official races on the legendary Nordschleife.
Before he may contest an NLS race in GT3 machinery, regulations require drivers to complete a mandatory course and obtain a permit, typically by competing in a less powerful car. Those steps are intended to ensure familiarity with the circuit’s unique safety and pace characteristics. If the licence process proceeds as described, Verstappen will be subject to the series' Balance of Performance rules and must race under his real licence rather than the pseudonym "Franz Hermann," which has been used by drivers in non-competitive appearances.
Verstappen’s participation in NLS comes amid an intense phase of his F1 campaign. His victory at Monza kept his slim championship hopes alive in Formula One, where he remains the benchmark for pace. The timing — between two Grands Prix — ensures he will return quickly to the F1 paddock, with the Baku round following the planned Nürburgring outing.
Teams involved in the planned NLS entries have not issued full confirmations beyond media reports, and details about car line-ups and race programmes could change as organisers and teams finalise permits and entries. For Verstappen, the foray into endurance GT racing represents a notable expansion of his racing activities beyond the F1 calendar and highlights the increasing crossover between top-level single-seater drivers and GT/endurance series.
Whether the Nürburgring programme signals a long-term shift in Verstappen’s career remains to be seen. For now, it adds a new chapter to a season in which he continues to pursue F1 titles while publicly acknowledging broader racing ambitions.