Verstappen Tackles Nürburgring 24H as Antonelli Follows His Lead

Max Verstappen is set to conquer one of motorsport's toughest endurance challenges this weekend, making his debut in the 24h Nürburgring. Meanwhile, Mercedes sensation Kimi Antonelli, fresh off a historic start to the 2026 F1 season, has revealed plans to follow the Dutchman's path and earn his own Nordschleife permit before the year ends.

Why it matters:

Verstappen’s foray into GT endurance racing underscores his relentless drive beyond F1, while Antonelli’s ambition signals a new generation of versatile talent. The Nordschleife remains the ultimate test for any driver, and both Red Bull and Mercedes see these outings as valuable for driver development and team synergy.

The details:

• Verstappen's weekend: The 24h Nürburgring kicks off Thursday, May 14 with two qualifying sessions. Top Qualifying runs Friday, followed by a warm-up Saturday morning. The race starts at 15:00 local time on Saturday and finishes exactly 24 hours later on Sunday, May 17.
• Antonelli's trajectory: The Italian has won three consecutive races and poles to start 2026, becoming the youngest championship leader in F1 history. He confirmed in an interview with Verstappen's teammate Jules Gounon that he hopes to begin the process for his A Permit before the end of the year.
• Family connection: Antonelli's father was a GT driver and team owner, giving him a natural link to endurance racing. He has already expressed interest in GT and LMP programs for the future.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the Green Hell this weekend as Verstappen teams up with experienced GT drivers. Antonelli, meanwhile, will continue his dominant F1 campaign while laying groundwork for his Nordschleife debut. If his single-seater form is any indication, the young Italian could soon add endurance racing to his growing list of achievements.