Verstappen Reveals 24 Hours of Spa Ambition, Clashes with F1 Calendar

Max Verstappen has revealed he was ready to take part in the GTWC 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this season, but a scheduling conflict with Formula 1's Austrian Grand Prix made it impossible. The four-time world champion, who recently competed in the Nürburgring Qualifiers during the April break, expressed his desire to race more outside F1, though the packed calendar often prevents it.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's openness to endurance racing highlights the growing tension between F1's demanding schedule and drivers' personal racing ambitions. His willingness to enter a second major event this year underscores his relentless drive and adds weight to his critique of the 2026 regulations, which he claims limit the spectacle.

The details:

• Spa clash: The 24 Hours of Spa is set for the same weekend as the Austrian GP in late June, forcing Verstappen to skip the iconic Belgian endurance race.
• Nürburgring experience: Verstappen drove a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Nürburgring Qualifiers, but the event ended tragically with the death of 66-year-old Juha Miettinen, while Verstappen's own race was ruined by technical issues.
• Future plans: "I want to do more of course, but it also depends a bit on the calendar," Verstappen told GPblog during Miami media day. "If there was a free weekend for the 24 Hours of Spa, I would have done that already this year."

Between the lines:

Ex-F1 designer Gary Anderson has backed Verstappen's recent criticism of the 2026 regulations. Anderson argued that the latest rule tweaks still force drivers into awkward lift-and-coast techniques on straights to recharge batteries, and that dangerous closing speeds have only been temporarily reduced, not eliminated. He warned that growing complexity around energy deployment risks making F1 harder for fans to follow.

What's next:

Verstappen's wish to race at Spa may remain unfulfilled for now, but his voice on 2026 regulations continues to shape the debate. With Anderson's support, the pressure on the FIA to deliver more driver-friendly and fan-transparent rules will only intensify ahead of the next regulation update.