Toto Wolff has confirmed that it was Mercedes-AMG that pushed to alter the dates of the preparation races for the Nürburgring 24 Hours to accommodate Max Verstappen because of the affect the four-time Formulation 1 champion has on the sequence’ viewership.
After making his GT3 debut, and successful, within the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) in 2025, Verstappen has been desperate to proceed along with his endurance racing efforts alongside F1. The Dutchman confirmed in October that his 2026 GT3 schedule would additionally rely on the complexity of the 2026 F1 laws.
“[Next year] is dependent upon a number of issues to be trustworthy. It is dependent upon F1 initially, I am suspecting that with the principles subsequent 12 months it should be very difficult to start out with, some unknowns anyway,” he mentioned.
“It most likely shall be a bit bit extra hectic than the tip of a regulation the place issues are a bit extra simple. Plus, there’s additionally the programme of the GT3 workforce, which automotive we’re going to race subsequent 12 months and stuff like that, so a number of issues that also have to return collectively earlier than I can actually plan it properly upfront for simply my drivers already within the workforce, plus myself.
“We need to be again there, I simply do not know for the time being what number of races I can do subsequent 12 months, but when there is a chance and I be ok with it, plus no matter is occurring in F1, then for positive.”
It was confirmed in January that the date had been modified for the preparation races for the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Wolff has now confirmed Mercedes’ affect over this determination.
“It wasn’t me personally,” he advised the media in Bahrain. “It was AMG along with the NLS organisers. I imply, it is an apparent profit for all of the members and for the sequence.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
“I do not know the figures I heard, I can not bear in mind them, however between a traditional NLS spherical, we’ve got 100 instances extra spectators on YouTube with Max collaborating than in any other case. You recognize the numbers? It was like 10,000 to 750,000 or one thing loopy, you should learn it up.
“So it is a no-brainer to alter it, and I believe it is nice for the 24 hours, for the followers to have Max there, and clearly driving a Mercedes is one thing we take pleasure in.”
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