Overview
- Verstappen will share the #3 Mercedes‑AMG GT3 run by Winward with Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella under factory Mercedes‑AMG support.
- The 24‑hour race runs May 14–17 on the Nordschleife/GP loop between F1’s Miami and Canadian Grands Prix, avoiding a direct clash with his F1 duties.
- The April 18–19 Nürburgring qualifiers overlap the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, creating potential availability issues tied to his F1 schedule.
- A sister Winward‑run, factory‑backed Mercedes entry (#80) will feature Maro Engel, Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz.
- Verstappen secured his Nordschleife permit and won NLS9 in 2025, and the high‑profile Red Bull branding on a Mercedes entry comes as he criticizes F1’s 2026 rules.