Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s concerns over this season’s Formula 1 regulations are gaining fresh relevance, as four-time world champion Max Verstappen has pulled out of the opening Nürburgring 24 Hours ceremony on safety grounds. 193a
Verstappen, who is making his highly anticipated debut at the legendary endurance race this weekend, will not attend Wednesday’s parade through the town of Adenau. Organisers confirmed that the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entry, shared by Verstappen, Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella and Lucas Auer, will not take part in the 4pm procession. The decision was made to avoid a potential safety risk due to the massive crowds expected because of Verstappen’s presence. 193a0c7c
The Dutchman will also skip the meet-and-greet and autograph session later in the weekend. Organisers stressed that the absence is not down to Verstappen himself, but a “conscious choice from a safety standpoint” given his popularity and the sell-out crowd. 0c7c
The move comes as Verstappen’s entry has sent demand for the 54th running of the race through the roof. Weekend tickets sold out for the first time in the event’s 56-year history, with organisers warning fans not to travel without a valid ticket. The 161-car grid is the largest in more than a decade, but it’s Verstappen’s participation that has driven global attention. 3d07
Horner’s “technical Frankenstein” comment from earlier this year is resurfacing in the context of Verstappen’s packed schedule and the challenges of juggling F1 with other motorsport commitments. The Red Bull boss had warned that the current regulations could produce unwieldy, overly complex cars, and that drivers would face unpredictable demands. While that referred to F1 machinery, the sentiment now applies to Verstappen’s own workload: balancing F1 duties with a 24-hour endurance debut on the 25km Nordschleife. 193a
Verstappen has been preparing for the race since March, when he took part in Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie rounds with Team Verstappen Racing. He secured pole on his NLS debut and won alongside Juncadella and Gounon, though the result was later voided over a tyre infringement. Despite that, his pace has raised expectations that he could challenge for outright victory. 44ed
The race itself starts Saturday May 16 at 3pm local time and runs through to Sunday. Verstappen will share driving duties with Gounon, Juncadella and Auer in the SP9 class, which features nine manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-AMG. 6f4c3d07
For now, though, the focus is on keeping the event safe. With tens of thousands of fans expected, organisers decided that keeping Verstappen off the streets of Adenau was the right call. It’s a reminder of the scale of his star power — and of Horner’s point that the modern motorsport landscape can create logistical and safety challenges that feel almost Frankenstein-like in complexity. 193a
