Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is tackling one of motorsport’s toughest challenges this weekend as he makes his debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in Germany. The Dutchman will share the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo with teammates Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Lucas Auer, rotating through stints on the legendary Nordschleife circuit, nicknamed “The Green Hell.”
The event runs from Thursday May 14 to Sunday May 17 and marks a historic moment for the race, which has sold out for the first time in its 56-year history. Verstappen will drive for his own Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, returning to the Nordschleife after a test run there in March.
This weekend is a stark contrast to Verstappen’s usual F1 schedule. In Grand Prix racing, he rarely spends more than two hours in the car at a time. At the Nürburgring, he’ll have to manage fatigue, concentration, and overnight driving stints that push both driver and machine to the limit. Adding to the challenge is the notoriously unpredictable Eifel weather, which is set to make conditions difficult from qualifying through to the finish.
Qualifying Faces Cold, Wet Conditions
Thursday’s first qualifying session starts at 1:15pm local time (12:15pm BST) and runs until 3:15pm CEST. Drivers will face temperatures of just 7-8°C, with a 61% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms in the final 15 minutes. Earlier in the week, the village of Nürburg saw reports of snowfall, and strong wind gusts were forecast for Wednesday night.
Qualifying 2 begins later at 8pm CEST under calmer skies. While temperatures remain around 7°C, the chance of rain drops to 20% at the start. As the session moves into the night, temperatures will fall to around 4°C. Drivers will also deal with 88% humidity and a light breeze of 13 km/h, making track conditions tricky.
Friday’s Top Qualifying Brings a Slight Warm-Up
Friday’s “Top Qualifying” sessions run from 10:15am to 2:35pm CEST and will determine pole position for the race. There’s a chance of sun breaking through the cloud cover in the morning. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly to 7-10°C, with the final Top Qualifying 3 stint feeling closer to 13°C. Rain risk starts at 47% but drops to 19% in the first hour before climbing back to 34% in the early afternoon.
Race Day Brings Cold Nights and Variable Track Conditions
The 24-hour race begins Saturday May 16 at 3pm local time (2pm BST, 9am EDT) and finishes at the same time Sunday. The start temperature is forecast at 10°C, but it will drop significantly overnight as drivers take turns through the early hours.
Morning showers aren’t expected to cause a full stoppage, but the Nordschleife’s 25km length means conditions can vary wildly across the circuit. Some sections may remain wet while others dry under brief sunshine, forcing constant tire and strategy calls.
As the race enters its second half, temperatures could fall to as low as 2°C, making the overnight stints especially demanding. Fatigue, low grip, and shifting weather will test Verstappen and his co-drivers right to the chequered flag on Sunday May 17.
With a sold-out crowd and brutal conditions expected, all eyes will be on Verstappen to see how he adapts from F1’s short sprints to endurance racing’s marathon.
