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Verstappen to Race Nürburgring 24h in Red Bull GT3

5/16/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Verstappen Races Nürburgring

Formula One driver Max Verstappen will race the Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend in a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3.
He has a Red Bull contract through 2028 that includes clauses allowing an earlier exit.
He completed six Nordschleife practice runs this year to prepare for the 161-car field.
He aims to compete at Le Mans when Ford joins the World Endurance Championship top class in 2027.

Summary

Verstappen Near Record

Verstappen has 214 starts, 48 poles, 127 podiums, 71 wins and is 13 wins from the record.
At 2016 Brazilian GP he spun, switched to slicks and rose 13 places to podium.
His defensive moves in the 2016 Belgian and Japanese races led the FIA to allow one defensive maneuver.
In 2025 Red Bull lost dominance; a challenge and a crash into Hamilton left Verstappen two points short of title.

History

Historical Context

Ford launched the GT40 in the mid-1960s to dethrone Ferrari’s six-year Le Mans streak, and its Mk II secured a 1-2-3 victory on 18-19 June 1966—the first overall win for an American constructor since 1921. Today Max Verstappen will drive a GT3 at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, echoing Ford’s historic endurance breakthrough. Roughly 100 GT40s were produced.

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Verstappen Races Nürburgring

Formula One driver Max Verstappen will race the Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend in a Red Bull-branded Mercedes-AMG GT3.
He has a Red Bull contract through 2028 that includes clauses allowing an earlier exit.
He completed six Nordschleife practice runs this year to prepare for the 161-car field.
He aims to compete at Le Mans when Ford joins the World Endurance Championship top class in 2027.

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