Formula One legend Max Verstappen will make his debut in an around-the-clock race this weekend at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The Dutch superstar will be tackling the fearsome circuit that, since 1928, has tragically claimed the lives of 70 professional drivers.
This year, 161 cars have been entered to take on the 15.769-mile circuit that Scottish racing icon Jackie Stewart famously dubbed "the Green Hell." Situated in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, it is widely regarded as the most gruelling racing track on the planet. It was even part of the F1 calendar until 1976, when Austrian racing legend Niki Lauda suffered his notorious accident on the circuit, leaving him with life-threatening burns.
Boasting 73 corners, the north loop of the track stretches almost 13 miles and features more than 300 metres of unpredictable elevation changes. Even today, the circuit continues to claim lives. Juha Miettinen, 66, from Finland, lost his life while competing at the dreaded track in April this year, following a multi-car collision that left several others injured.
Nürburgring: A History of Danger and Prestige
Unlike the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which combines permanent circuits and public roads, this race is held on the Nürburgring Nordschleife and the Grand Prix circuit, two separate tracks situated within the same motorsport complex. More than 200,000 fans are expected to descend on this weekend's race, pitching up in the surrounding woodland and lining the barriers trackside, adding to the already considerable danger.
Originally, the track featured four configurations. However, in 1982, a new Grand Prix course, known as GP-Strecke, was created and is now used for all major and international racing events. Since opening in 1927, before many modern-day safety standards existed, the track has also been open to the public. Essentially, anyone with a road-legal vehicle can access the Nordschleife, which bypasses the modern GP-Strecke track.
The notorious road is open every day from mid-March through to mid-November, except when racing takes place, though drivers are required to pay a toll for access. Despite this, the circuit's treacherous conditions mean that any form of racing by non-professionals is strictly prohibited. Drivers' insurance coverage is frequently voided too, leaving those who attempt it personally liable for any damage.
Many drivers end up requiring roadside assistance, with around 80-90 crashes occurring on the circuit each year. In 2004, former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson declared the circuit "the most difficult and dangerous in the world" and claimed that over 200 people had lost their lives on the road. His stark warning came after he tackled the track alongside the late German racing driver Sabine Schmitz in 2004, when he attempted to complete it in under 10 minutes.
Verstappen's Preparation and Ambition
Since clinching his fourth F1 world championship at the close of 2024, Verstappen has set his sights on some of motorsport's most iconic events. He has even tackled Nordschleife on six occasions over the past year in preparation for the race. Speaking in March, he said: "All the big endurance races I want to do, it's something that when I was a kid, my dad was doing them. I don't need to be only an F1 driver, I can also do other things. I've done this already for a while, achieved everything I want to achieve so that's why I want to explore other things and I don't want to do them when I'm 40 years old. Now is the perfect age to do it."
Staying true to his F1 heritage, Verstappen will be competing in a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The action kicks off at 2pm on Saturday, broadcast live on Sky Sports.
