Verstappen set for 24-hour bucket list race at Nurburgring

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is taking on a “bucket list” challenge as he prepares to tackle his first 24-hour sportscar race at the historic Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.

Verstappen and his sportscar racing team said Monday that he plans to take on the storied endurance race in May, sharing a Red Bull -liveried Mercedes-AMG GT3 car with teammates Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer.

“The Nürburgring Nordschleife is a special place. There’s no other track like it,” Verstappen said. “The 24h Nürburgring is a race that’s been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m really thrilled we can make it happen now.”

Running nearly 13 miles (20.8 kilometers) through wooded German hills, with more than 150 corners and barriers often close to the track, the Nordschleife layout at the Nürburgring is known for high-risk thrills. F1 hasn’t used it since 1976, when then-reigning champion Niki Lauda suffered severe burns in a crash.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen walks out of the FIA office following a crash. AP

Verstappen made his debut at the circuit in September in a slower GT4-specification car in a four-hour race which served as his test to get a full permit to race faster cars on the circuit. He returned and won another race in a GT3 Ferrari later that month.

Verstappen’s team says he plans to also enter a race there March 21 to prepare for the 24-hour challenge, fitting that appearance in between this week’s Chinese Grand Prix and the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29. The 24-hour race starts at 3 p.m. local time on May 16 and ends the following day, a week before the Canadian Grand Meanwhile, George Russell claimed victory at the Australian Grand Prix to open the season with a bang as Mercedes showed they are clear early pacesetters under sweeping new regulations.

Mercedes came into the Melbourne race as the pre-season favourites and lived up to the billing.

After a front-row lockout in qualifying, pole-sitter Russell weathered an early battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to claim a statement victory over teammate Kimi Antonelli.

Russell called the win “very sweet” and team chief Toto Wolff is confident they have a package that can challenge for the drivers’ and constructors’ world title.

“To see us take a solid 1-2 in race one with the season ahead hopefully means we can try and fight for a world championship,” said Wolff.

Agencies