It got here as a giant shock when Max Verstappen took to the Estoril circuit in Portugal on Tuesday aboard a Mercedes-AMG GT3 from 2 Seas Motorsport. However there’s a severe background to this look and it might additionally have an effect on the four-time Method 1 world champion’s entry within the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Behind 2 Seas Motorsport, which fielded an Aston Martin within the 2025 GT World Problem Europe endurance sequence underneath the Verstappen.com Racing banner, is Nick Cristofaro, a detailed pal of Verstappen. It’s also believed that the British-Bahraini squad will grow to be Mercedes-AMG’s new efficiency workforce in 2026 and can implement the Verstappen.com Racing venture within the GTWCE.
The cockpit can be occupied by AMG works driver Jules Gounon, who additionally examined in Estoril, Verstappen’s Nordschleife workforce accomplice and sim racer Chris Lulham, and former AMG works driver Daniel Juncadella.
However why is Verstappen.com Racing out of the blue specializing in Mercedes-AMG? And what does this should do with Verstappen’s plans for the 24-hour race?
Verstappen within the Winward Mercedes on the Nurburgring 24 Hours
One argument in favour of Mercedes-AMG is that Lulham is known to desire the mature GT3 automobile developed by HWA somewhat than the Ferrari 296 GT3 utilized by the Emil Frey workforce, with which the Briton and Verstappen celebrated their NLS victory on the Nordschleife in September.
Motorsport.com understands that Winward can be Verstappen’s first alternative, with it being one of many extra established Mercedes-AMG racing groups because of its DTM involvement and is planning to make its debut on the 24-hour traditional in 2026.
However whether or not it’s doable for Verstappen to contest subsequent yr’s Nurburgring 24 Hours continues to be unknown, because the Dutchman mentioned throughout October’s Singapore Grand Prix weekend that this could rely upon “a number of issues”.
“It relies on F1 to begin with, I am suspecting that with the principles subsequent yr it is going to be very sophisticated to begin with, some unknowns anyway,” he added, citing the incoming regulation change.
“It in all probability can be a little bit bit extra hectic than the top of a regulation the place issues are a bit extra easy. Plus, there’s additionally the programme of the GT3 workforce, which automobile we’re going to race subsequent yr and stuff like that, so a number of issues that also have to return collectively earlier than I can actually plan it nicely prematurely for simply my drivers already within the workforce, plus myself.
“We need to be again there, I simply do not know in the mean time what number of races I can do subsequent yr, but when there is a chance and I be ok with it, plus no matter is occurring in F1, then for positive.”
NLS overlaps with F1 is a hurdle
The Nurburgring calendar poses main challenges: whereas the date of the 24-hour enduro (14-17 Could) doesn’t conflict with an F1 weekend, all three NLS preparatory races and the 24-hour qualifiers overlap.
The ADAC Nordrhein, which is answerable for internet hosting the qualifiers weekend and the 24-hour race, has dominated out suspending the qualifiers regardless of alleged efforts by Verstappen’s entourage – because of this Verstappen’s hopes can be restricted to the three NLS dates.
#31 Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3: Max Verstappen, Chris Lulham
Photograph by: Ferrari
Motorsport.com has realized that the 28-year-old would solely compete within the 24-hour race if he can at the least full NLS1, the primary of eight weekends within the NLS on 14 March, which clashes with the Chinese language Grand Prix.
However NLS boss Mike Jager has not dominated out date modifications, even when it’s not associated to Verstappen’s efforts. As a substitute, that’s as a result of pressure on groups, as the present schedule has 5 NLS races (NLS1 to three plus the 2 qualifier races) going down inside 37 days.
“It is not best that we’ve got 50% of the championship races for all the season earlier than the 24-hour race – however there is not any different choice given the present circumstances,” he mentioned. “If there’s something that may be modified, we might be joyful to take action. However that is still to be seen.”
Jager added: “We’d like to have him [Verstappen] again in our racing sequence as a result of I respect his down-to-earth method and since I consider that he and his total entourage have a constructive affect on our racing sequence.”
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