Max Verstappen considers 2027 return following Nurburgring setback

Max Verstappen indicated he would attempt to return to the Nurburgring next year after narrowly missing out on victory in his debut 24-hour endurance race over the weekend due to a mechanical issue. Verstappen’s team, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3, led the race by about 30 seconds with three hours and 20 minutes remaining when a driveshaft malfunction ended their chances of winning. The team, which featured teammates Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Lucas Auer, managed to complete just one more lap, hindered by the time taken to resolve the issue.

The victory ultimately went to the Mercedes team of Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, and Maxime Martin. A record total of 352,000 spectators attended the race, showcasing the significant interest in the four-time F1 world champion Verstappen. Despite the unfortunate late-race luck, the Dutch driver expressed enjoyment of the “super challenging” conditions at the famed “Green Hell” circuit in Germany. "I like the competition and the endurance-style racing where you share with teammates," said Verstappen. "The 24-hour race here... the track is super challenging, so the whole combination [I enjoy]. My stint was good. Back in the daylight, I was trying to keep it safe while, of course, maintaining a decent pace. The car was working well, and I just tried to stay out of trouble."

When asked about a possible return in 2027, the 28-year-old replied: "I will for sure try. It always depends a bit on my schedule." The 24-hour sportscar race had been one of Verstappen’s primary goals for 2026. He acquired the necessary A-licence last year to race at the challenging 20.832 km track, which included passing a theoretical exam. Although he is contracted to Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with the sport’s new regulations this year and even suggested he might leave the sport at the season’s end. Nevertheless, the recent race in Miami showed some improvement in performance, and he is set to race again this weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.