Max Verstappen will make his long-awaited debut at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring next month. The four-time world champion will appear at the start in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, together with teammates Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella and Lucas Auer. He tested several times on the German circuit this year and also participated in NLS2 in March. In the run-up to his debut, the organization of the 24-hour race implemented a number of regulatory changes.
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The 24 Hours of the Nürburgring will be held on the weekend of 16 and 17 May. Partly due to growing popularity and increasing interest, the organization is taking this opportunity to modernize both the sporting format and the safety and structure of the event.
New qualifying system
The biggest change for 2026 is in the qualifying system, which has been completely overhauled. The organization is moving away from the old time-trial format and introducing a setup with Top-Q1, Top-Q2 and Top-Q3, similar to Formula 1. A maximum of six cars can already qualify for Top-Q3 prior to the event; the progression is determined via the results of the first three NLS races and the qualifying sessions in April – in which Verstappen is also participating.
On the Friday preceding the 24-hour race, it will be definitively determined who starts from pole position. The twenty fastest cars advance from Top-Q1, after which individual time-trial segments determine who secures a spot in Top-Q3. Both sessions last 35 minutes, after which a maximum of twelve cars ultimately compete for pole position.
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Maximum number of teams
Due to the popularity of the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, the next edition has reached the maximum of 150 participating teams. Because of the enormous interest, the organizers have been forced to apply a selection procedure to assemble the starting field. Factors such as class balance, technical quality and sporting performance are considered to guarantee a diverse and competitive field. In addition, a reserve list has been drawn up. Vacated spots can still be filled by teams that initially missed out.
Light panels
In addition to the sporting format, safety is also being addressed with the introduction of extra light panels along the circuit. These panels support the traditional flag signals of the marshals and are now also used during the day, whereas they were previously mainly used in the dark. “We tested this system during the second NLS race in 2026,” race director Walter Hornung said. “It was very well received by the drivers and track marshals who have to work with it.” In total, 28 panels will be placed on the Nordschleife and another eight on the GP circuit.
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