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 as a result of affect the four-time Formulation 1 champion has on the collection’ viewership.
After making his GT3 debut, and successful, within the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) in 2025, Verstappen has been wanting 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] relies on a whole lot of issues to be trustworthy. It relies on F1 to start with, I am suspecting that with the principles subsequent yr it will be very sophisticated to start out with, some unknowns anyway,” he mentioned.
“It in all probability will probably be a bit of 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 yr and stuff like that, so a whole lot of issues that also have to return collectively earlier than I can actually plan it nicely prematurely for simply my drivers already within the workforce, plus myself.
“We wish to be again there, I simply do not know in the intervening time what number of races I can do subsequent yr, 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 choice.
“It wasn’t me personally,” he informed the media in Bahrain. “It was AMG along with the NLS organisers. I imply, it is an apparent profit for all of the contributors and for the collection.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
“I do not know the figures I heard, I am unable to keep in mind them, however between a traditional NLS spherical, we’ve 100 instances extra spectators on YouTube with Max collaborating than in any other case. You already know the numbers? It was like 10,000 to 750,000 or one thing loopy, it is advisable to 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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