Max Verstappen has declared his intention to return to the Nurburgring next year after being denied a debut 24-hour endurance race victory by a mechanical failure. The four-time Formula 1 world champion was leading the race by approximately 30 seconds with just three hours and 20 minutes remaining when a driveshaft issue struck his Mercedes-AMG GT3.
A Promising Run Cut Short
Verstappen, sharing the car with Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Lucas Auer, could only complete one more lap before the problem forced them out. The winning Mercedes, driven by Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, and Maxime Martin, claimed the trophy. A record crowd of 352,000 spectators gathered to watch the event, drawn by the presence of the Dutch superstar.
Verstappen's Reflections on the Race
Despite the bitter disappointment, Verstappen expressed his enjoyment of the grueling conditions at the infamous 'Green Hell' circuit. 'I like the competition and the endurance style racing where you share with team-mates,' he said. 'The 24-Hour race here… the track is super challenging, so the whole combination [I enjoy].' He added, 'My stint was good. Back in the daylight, I was trying to keep it safe while, of course, maintaining a decent pace. The car was working well and I just tried to stay out of trouble.'
Future Plans and F1 Commitments
When asked about a potential return in 2027, the 28-year-old replied, 'I will for sure try. It always depends a bit on my schedule.' The 24-hour sportscar race was one of Verstappen's major ambitions for 2026. He obtained the necessary A-licence last year, including passing a theoretical exam, to compete on the demanding 20.832 km circuit.
While under contract with Red Bull in Formula 1 until the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen has voiced dissatisfaction with this year's new regulations and has even hinted at quitting the sport. However, a performance improvement at the Miami Grand Prix offers some optimism. He will next race at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend.
