Verstappen Begins 24‑Hour Nürburgring Qualifiers at the Green Hell

Max Verstappen stepped onto the Nürburgring Nordschleife on Saturday, kicking off the ADAC 24‑Hour Nürburgring Qualifiers. He drove the #3 Mercedes‑AMG GT3 alongside fellow Red Bull driver Lucas Auer, while teammates observed the action from the GT World Challenge Europe paddock.

Verstappen’s last appearance on the “Green Hell” saw him lead practice, suggesting pole‑position speed, although live timing was not available this weekend. The weekend’s agenda includes two qualifying races on Saturday, a second qualifying race and a top‑qualifying sprint on Sunday, followed by the NLS4 and NLS5 endurance races.

Why it matters:

Verstappen’s foray into GT3 highlights the fluidity between Formula 1 and sports‑car disciplines, giving the champion a different set of challenges and exposing his brand to a broader fan base. For Mercedes‑AMG, the high‑profile entry boosts the GT3 programme’s credibility, while the event itself benefits from the media attention a four‑time world champion brings.

The details:

• Car & crew: Verstappen piloted the #3 Mercedes‑AMG GT3, a factory‑supported entry tuned for the Nordschleife’s demanding layout; Lucas Auer served as co‑driver.
• Schedule:
  • Saturday Qualifying Race 1 – 07:30‑09:00 GMT (08:30‑10:00 CET)
  • Saturday Race 1 (NLS4) – 16:30‑20:30 GMT (17:30‑21:30 CET)
  • Sunday Qualifying Race 2 – 07:15‑08:45 GMT (08:15‑09:45 CET)
  • Sunday Top Qualifying – 09:40‑10:40 GMT (10:40‑11:40 CET)
  • Sunday Race 2 (NLS5) – 12:00‑16:00 GMT (13:00‑17:00 CET)
• Parallel action: Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon contested the season‑opening World Endurance Championship round at Imola, underscoring a busy weekend across multiple series.
• Russell’s view: Mercedes driver George Russell told a select media group that losing Verstappen would “be a loss for the sport,” but he would understand any decision to step away from F1.

What's next:

The next hour will see the start of Qualifying Race 1, setting the grid for the NLS4 endurance run later Saturday. Sunday’s top‑qualifying session will decide the pole for the climactic NLS5 race. Verstappen’s performance will be a barometer for his adaptability across disciplines, and Russell’s comments suggest his presence remains a key narrative in F1’s driver market.