Nürburgring Legend Tips Verstappen for 24h Debut Victory

Max Verstappen's upcoming 24 Hours of the Nürburgring debut has already drawn a bold prediction from a four-time winner of the event. Markus Winkelhock, who won the legendary race four times, says the Dutchman has a realistic chance to take victory in his first attempt.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's foray into endurance racing marks a new chapter for the reigning F1 champion, who has long listed the Nürburgring, Spa, and Le Mans as bucket-list wins. Success on the Nordschleife would add a prestigious endurance crown to his F1 legacy, and Winkelhock believes the stars could align for a debut win.

The details:

• Winkelhock, who briefly led his only F1 race at the same circuit in 2007, now works as an Audi DTM driver and rates winning a 24-hour race as nearly equal to a championship.
• Strong package: Verstappen will drive a Mercedes, a brand Winkelhock considers among the most reliable on the Nordschleife alongside Audi and Porsche. The BOP (Balance of Performance) is expected to favor Mercedes this year.
• Teammate depth: The three other drivers sharing the car—Lucas Auer, Daniel Juncadella, and Jules Gounon—are all Mercedes factory drivers, giving Verstappen a top-tier supporting cast.
• Potential pitfalls: Overtaking traffic on the narrow circuit requires caution, and night driving in changing conditions is the biggest unknown. “If it rains at night and then starts to dry, that’s the key part,” Winkelhock warned.

What's next:

The 24-hour race is a one-shot event, and experience is critical—especially at night. Winkelhock acknowledges Verstappen’s limited night practice but notes his quick learning curve. “If it’s a dry race, I don’t see any problems he’ll encounter at night. Only in changing conditions is more experience absolutely an advantage.”

With simulations under his belt and a strong car, Verstappen will aim to convert his raw speed into a historic debut victory. The race is set to be one of the most anticipated weekends of the 2026 season.