Mercedes Lobbies to Reschedule Nürburgring Race for Verstappen Debut

Formula 1 star Max Verstappen's participation in the iconic 24-hour endurance race hangs in the balance as Mercedes pushes for a date change.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:12am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the Nürburgring 24 Hours race in a fractured, multi-perspective style, using bold colors to capture the energy and excitement of the event.Mercedes' efforts to reschedule a key race could open the door for Formula 1 star Max Verstappen to make his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut.Today in Detroit

Mercedes-Benz and its motorsport chief Toto Wolff are reportedly lobbying to postpone the opening round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) on March 14th, which currently conflicts with the Chinese Grand Prix. This move would allow Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen to make his highly anticipated debut in the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, as he has the green light from both Red Bull and Mercedes. Verstappen is personally selecting his Mercedes-AMG team partners, with DTM runner-up Lucas Auer and sim racer Chris Lulham likely candidates, though he has reportedly vetoed the inclusion of Maro Engel.

Why it matters

Verstappen's participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours would be a major event, as the Formula 1 driver seeks to expand his racing repertoire beyond single-seaters. Mercedes' lobbying efforts to reschedule the NLS race highlight the company's desire to accommodate Verstappen and capitalize on the publicity and excitement surrounding his potential debut in the iconic endurance event.

The details

Mercedes-AMG has officially requested a postponement of the NLS1 race, as all three NLS races and the two qualifiers before the 24-hour race conflict with the Formula 1 calendar. NLS officials have confirmed the request, but series boss Mike Jager has stated that nothing has been decided yet, as the new date would need to suit all involved parties. Verstappen is personally selecting his Mercedes-AMG team partners, with DTM runner-up Lucas Auer and sim racer Chris Lulham likely candidates. However, Verstappen has reportedly vetoed the inclusion of Maro Engel, with whom he had a social media spat after an initial Nürburgring test.

  • The NLS1 race is currently scheduled for March 14, 2026, which conflicts with the Chinese Grand Prix.
  • If the NLS1 race is postponed, the new date would be March 21, 2026, between the F1 races in China and Japan.

The players

Mercedes-Benz

The German automotive company that owns the Mercedes-AMG brand and is pushing for the rescheduling of the NLS1 race to accommodate Verstappen's participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Toto Wolff

The motorsport chief at Mercedes-Benz and a key figure in the company's efforts to reschedule the NLS1 race.

Max Verstappen

The Formula 1 superstar who is seeking to make his debut in the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, with the support of both Red Bull and Mercedes.

Lucas Auer

The DTM runner-up in 2025, who is a likely candidate to be part of Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG team for the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Chris Lulham

A sim racer who has previously competed with Verstappen in an NLS race, and is also a likely candidate for Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG team.

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What they’re saying

“The request for a possible postponement has now been submitted, but nothing more than that.”

— Mike Jager, NLS Series Boss

“We are currently looking into this, but nothing has been decided yet. It has to suit everyone.”

— Mike Jager, NLS Series Boss

What’s next

If the NLS1 race is postponed, the new date of March 21, 2026, would need to be approved by all involved parties, including other racing series with conflicting dates.

The takeaway

Mercedes' efforts to reschedule the NLS1 race highlight the company's desire to accommodate Verstappen's participation in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, a move that would generate significant publicity and excitement around the iconic endurance event. The outcome of these negotiations will determine whether the Formula 1 superstar can make his highly anticipated debut in the race.