Max Verstappen’s Nurburgring 24 Hours GT3 race: full timings and how to watch live

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Max Verstappen is gearing up for his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut in 2026, with the first qualifiers race set to take place this weekend. F1 Oversteer has everything you need to know, including how to watch and the full race schedule.

The Dutchman made his GT3 endurance racing debut last season, securing an NLS victory at the Nurburgring Nordschleife with Emil Frey Racing. The four-time Formula 1 world champion returned to the series in 2026 with his Mercedes-AMG-powered Team Verstappen Racing entry, which went on to claim pole position.

Although Verstappen followed that up with another win at the Nordschleife during the opening four-hour race in March, the result was later overturned. His team was disqualified for exceeding the tyre allocation, having used seven sets instead of the permitted six.

Now, Verstappen turns his focus to the iconic ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nurburgring in May, with qualifying for the gruelling event taking place in April. The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has opened the door for him to compete this weekend alongside teammates Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer.

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When is the Nurburgring 24 Hours, including full weekend schedule

The 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours will take place on 16–17 May, with qualifying action getting underway on 18–19 April. The weekend also features two four-hour races, giving teams valuable experience of the circuit’s ever-changing conditions.

Saturday’s race on 18 April begins at 5:00pm CEST and runs into the evening, offering drivers a crucial opportunity to gain some limited running in darker conditions.

On Sunday 19 April, Top Qualifying will determine the front of the grid before the second four-hour race later in the day. Race 2 gets underway at 12:30pm CEST, allowing teams to fine-tune their setups and gather important data in daylight conditions.

Here is the full schedule for the 2026 Nurburgring 24 Hours:

How to watch the Nurburgring 24 Hours racing this weekend

Verstappen will make his debut at the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nurburgring this weekend, with two four-hour races serving as preparation for the main endurance event in May.

The race weekend on 16–17 May will be available to watch for free on the Sky Sports F1 YouTube channel, which will provide an English-language broadcast. An alternative stream will also be available on the Red Bull Motorsports YouTube channel.

German-speaking viewers can follow the action live via the NLS YouTube channel.

What is the Nurburgring 24 Hours?

The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nurburgring is one of the most iconic endurance races in motorsport, held annually on Germany’s legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. At 25.378km, the circuit delivers one of the toughest challenges in racing, featuring one of the longest laps on the calendar.

Combining the historic Nordschleife with the modern Grand Prix circuit, the track includes more than 150 corners, along with narrow sections and dramatic elevation changes. Unpredictable and rapidly shifting weather conditions further add to the challenge, often turning the race into a test of adaptability as much as outright speed.

The Nurburgring 24 Hours also regularly attracts up to 190 cars across multiple classes, creating heavy traffic and significant speed differentials, as faster machines must constantly navigate slower competitors.