The reigning four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen is reportedly ready to take on a new motorsport challenge by making his official debut in Endurance racing. The Dutch driver is set to compete in his very first race at the wheel of a Ferrari GT3 car. The rumors had been circulating for some time, never denied by Verstappen himself, and now they are finally becoming reality. Below are all the confirmed details surrounding this exciting step in Max Verstappen’s career, which could potentially pave the way for a long-term future in Endurance competitions.
Max Verstappen has never hidden his enthusiasm for endurance racing and for racing cars with closed wheels, a style quite different from the single-seaters used in Formula 1. On several occasions, Verstappen has expressed his desire to participate in the most prestigious international Endurance championships, such as the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), either after the conclusion of his Formula 1 career or possibly even in parallel with it. Like many legendary names in motorsport history, the Red Bull Racing driver dreams of someday winning the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the crown jewels of endurance racing.
A major step toward that dream came a few months ago when Max Verstappen obtained his FIA Platinum Driver License, the highest possible category issued by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). This license is reserved for elite drivers who have achieved significant results in FIA-sanctioned championships. Other prominent drivers who hold the Platinum license and have taken part in legendary endurance events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona include Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, and Nico Hülkenberg.
Where exactly will Max Verstappen race? According to recent reports, the Dutch champion will be competing behind the wheel of the Ferrari 296 GT3 fielded by the Emil Frey Racing team. This is the same car that Verstappen tested privately a few months ago in a secret session. His first official outing is expected to take place in the 4 Hours of Nürburgring, a round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), the German endurance racing series held at the legendary Nürburgring circuit.
The official NLS calendar suggests three possible dates for Verstappen’s appearance: 13–14 September, 27 September, or 11 October. While the exact date is still to be confirmed, all signs point to one of these events being the platform for Verstappen’s endurance racing debut.
However, there is more to this than just a single race appearance. The true objective for Max Verstappen is to compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, held on the historic and demanding 20-kilometre-long Nordschleife layout of the Nürburgring circuit—often referred to as “The Green Hell” for its difficulty and unpredictability.
But there’s a catch. In order to race on the Nordschleife in that prestigious 24-hour event, Verstappen needs to acquire the Nürburgring Permit A, a special racing license required for that specific track. One of the paths to obtain this permit includes successfully completing two races in the NLS series. Therefore, his upcoming appearance with Emil Frey Racing is more than just a one-off race; it is part of a broader plan to qualify for the full 24-hour challenge in the future.
Max Verstappen’s move into GT3 and endurance racing signals a possible evolution in his career, one that many top-tier drivers have followed as they seek new challenges outside Formula 1. With Ferrari machinery beneath him and clear long-term ambitions in the endurance world, the Dutch driver seems well on his way to expanding his legacy beyond Grand Prix racing.
