Max Verstappen is set to continue his preparations for endurance racing with a busy weekend at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, where fans can watch his participation in the NLS4 race live and free of charge.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion is taking another step outside his usual F1 environment as he builds experience ahead of his highly anticipated debut in the 24-hour Nürburgring race next month. This weekend marks an important milestone, as Verstappen will compete in not just one, but two Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) races—NLS4 on Saturday and NLS5 on Sunday—along with Top Qualifying sessions tied to the main endurance event.
For the NLS4 round on Saturday, April 18, Verstappen will once again get behind the wheel of a GT3 machine, representing his own team in partnership with Mercedes-AMG machinery. He will share driving duties with Austrian racer Lucas Auer, who is also expected to be part of his lineup for the full 24-hour race in May. Their collaboration is seen as a key part of Verstappen’s adaptation to endurance racing, which demands consistency, teamwork, and long-run pace—very different from the sprint-style intensity of Formula 1.
The NLS4 event itself follows a structured schedule. Qualifying is set to begin early on Saturday morning at 08:30 local time (CEST), which corresponds to 07:30 in the United Kingdom. For viewers in the United States, that translates to 02:30 Eastern Time, 01:30 Central Time, and 23:30 Pacific Time on Friday night. The main race later in the day will start at 17:30 local time (CEST), or 16:30 in the UK. In the U.S., fans can tune in from 11:30 Eastern, 10:30 Central, and 08:30 Pacific. The race is scheduled to run for four hours, providing a solid endurance test for all drivers involved.
Sunday will follow a similar pattern with NLS5 and additional qualifying sessions, giving Verstappen maximum track time across the weekend. This double-header format is particularly valuable for a driver transitioning into endurance racing, as it allows him to gain familiarity with traffic management, changing track conditions, and the unique challenges of the Nürburgring Nordschleife—one of the most demanding circuits in the world.
Fans eager to follow Verstappen’s progress won’t need a paid subscription. The event is being streamed live for free, with coverage of the Saturday qualifying session beginning shortly before it starts. This accessibility ensures that supporters around the world can watch Verstappen’s journey as he sharpens his skills ahead of one of the toughest races in motorsport.
Overall, the weekend represents more than just another race outing. It is a crucial phase in Verstappen’s transition into endurance racing, offering valuable experience and insight as he prepares to tackle the legendary Nürburgring 24 Hours.
