Why Max Verstappen just isn’t racing in NLS3 this weekend

Purple Bull Formulation 1 driver Max Verstappen won’t participate within the newest spherical of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, scheduled for this weekend.

The four-time Formulation 1 world champion made his GT racing debut final Autumn, collaborating in NLS9 on the iconic Nurburgring Nordschleife in an Emil Frey-run Ferrari.

Max Verstappen guided the Purple Bull-liveried Ferrari to a maiden victory in his first time of asking, as he set his sights on a primary look on the Nurburgring 24 Hours.

Plans have been put in place earlier this yr to permit that to occur, with the Dutchman’s Group Verstappen partnering with Winward Racing to run a Purple Bull-backed Mercedes-AMG GT3.

NLS organisers, following lobbying from Mercedes and Toto Wolff, moved NLS2 to the weekend between the Chinese language and Japanese Grands Prix to permit Verstappen to compete.

This was regarded as a requirement of his earlier than committing to a 24 Hours entry.

Partnering with Joules Gounon and Dani Juncadella, Verstappen certified on pole for NLS2 final month and went on to assist the No.3 automobile take victory.

Nonetheless, the automobile was later disqualified because of a tyre utilization error.

What are Verstappen’s Nurburgring plans in April?

Following the NLS2 race, Verstappen says he was evaluating an entry into NLS3, with F1’s April Center Jap races cancelled because of the warfare in Iran.

Nonetheless, on the Japanese Grand Prix, he confirmed that he won’t be collaborating in NLS3 on Saturday 11 April.

It’s because the No.3 Mercedes automobile he drove with Gounon and Juncadella is competing within the opening spherical of the GT World Problem Europe at Paul Ricard this weekend.

Nonetheless, he’ll return to the wheel of the No.3 Mercedes for the Nurburgring 24 qualifiers on the weekend of 18-19 April, forward of the 24-hour enduro in Might.

Verstappen will deal with the qualifiers with Lucas Auer. Juncadella and Gounon will be unable to take part because of their FIA World Endurance Championship commitments at Imola.

The 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours will function a full 150-car entry record, with Verstappen fever prompting elevated curiosity within the occasion.

Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will make his GT racing debut this weekend on the GTWCE season-opener at Paul Ricard.