Max Verstappen’s participation in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring has given the event a significant boost. The endurance classic was already popular with motorsport fans, but the involvement of the four-time F1 champion puts the race in the global spotlight. The organization expects all available tickets to be sold out; the rush for tickets also means a ‘win-win situation’ for all involved.
This coming weekend, Max Verstappen, together with teammates Jules Gounon, Dani Juncadella, and Lucas Auer, will start the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. After several test sessions and preparatory races in his Mercedes-AMG GT3, the Dutchman is finally making his long-awaited 24-hour debut. During the NLS, there was already talk of ‘Max Mania’ on and around the circuit, with organizers warning of extra crowds and additional grandstands being opened.
During the 24-hour race, a record number of visitors is also expected. At the 2025 edition, about 280,000 race fans lined the track, but this year, 350,000 spectators are anticipated. The organization announced on Thursday that various ticket types are already completely sold out and that the remaining tickets are selling like hotcakes. These include four-day tickets and day tickets for Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.
‘Max breaks the F1 bubble’
“Even more people are drawn because of Max Verstappen,” circuit spokesperson Alexander Gerhard told GPblog. “Whether that has such a huge economic effect on the region, you can’t say for sure, but the fact that he participates as an F1 driver is, I think, a huge win-win situation for everyone involved.” According to Gerhard, Verstappen’s participation strengthens his credibility as a driver. “He is still a real racer. F1 drivers are often accused of staying in their own bubble; Max completely breaks that.”
“At the same time, he subjects himself a bit to the Nordschleife,” the German explained. “He says: ‘Hey, I also have to prove myself here.’ Last year, he went through the whole process to obtain his license. He was never afraid but always said: ‘I’m doing this because I want to.’ And that is just great promotion for the motorsport community. Moreover, it’s good for Formula 1 because you see that an F1 driver has the exceptional talent to also perform in a GT3 car on the Nordschleife.”
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