Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will not race at the Nordschleife in 2025 again, and has some very clear conditions for racing there in 2026.
One week after winning the Italian Grand Prix in early September, Verstappen earned the licence needed to race GT3 cars on the legendary Nordschleife circuit and, having then won F1's Azerbaijan GP, last weekend Verstappen won on his GT3 race debut at the Nurburgring, driving a Ferrari.
But now Verstappen is taking a break, declining to race in the season finale of the 2025 NLS endurance series, which the race Verstappen won was a part of.
That NLS10 race will take place next weekend, in-between F1's Singapore and Austin races.
"I'm not doing that one, I'm taking a bit of a break," said Verstappen when The Race asked him if he would be competing in it.
"After this weekend, I've done six weekends in a row, so it's quite a bit."
Verstappen has repeatedly said he'd like to compete in the prestigious Nurburgring 24 Hours and he could theoretically do so in 2026, given it will take place in the gap between F1's Miami and Canadian Grands Prix.
But Verstappen said his participation would be partly contingent on how Red Bull starts F1's new rules cycle.
"It depends on a lot of things to be honest. It depends on F1 first of all," the four-time F1 champion said.
"I am suspecting of course that the rules next year, it's going to be very complicated to start with and [there are] some unknowns anyway, right? So it probably will be a little bit more hectic than the end of a regulation where things are more straightforward.
"Plus, also the programme of the GT3 team, which car we are going to race next year, stuff like that [is a consideration]. So a lot of things that still have to come together before I can really plan it well in advance for just my drivers already in the team, plus myself.
"We want to be back there. I just don't know at the moment, of course, myself, how much or how many races I can do next year.
"But if there is an opportunity and I feel good about it, plus...whatever is happening in F1, then for sure [he will]."
Asked if racing there has made him a better F1 driver, Verstappen said: "I've been doing this already for so many years on the simulator, so for me doing it now in real life is not very, very different.
"But it definitely doesn't hurt. I think I can say that."
Rivals 'jealous'
Many of Verstappen's F1 contemporaries were asked about his Nordschleife exploits, with Mercedes driver George Russell suggesting there was a shared envy among them.
"I think we're all pretty jealous of it, because having this freedom of firstly doing what you love in Formula 1, but then also being able to go out and race other things and just enjoy it at your leisure [is uncommon]," Russell said.
"I don't think it's quite that straightforward for other people doing it, but you have that right when you win four world championships, and we're all here fighting to win our first.
"Maybe after four championship under our belts, we'll be able to choose to do the same.
"But respect it a lot, and definitely I would love to do it one day."
Asked about the risk of doing extracurricular racing activities - with Robert Kubica's 2011 rallying crash cited by the questioner - Russell said: "You have to do what you enjoy in life, and there's a risk in everything.
"We can slip on the padel court and break a leg as an example, or you fall down the stairs in the morning.
"There are certain things that have a greater risk. Obviously, rally is probably a higher risk than racing a GT3 car on a race track, but ultimately, we all have to do what we enjoy.
"This is life. A lot of drivers go skiing as well. You can't wrap yourself in bubble wrap."
Haas F1 driver Esteban Ocon said: "If I was in his position, I would probably do the same, definitely. But yeah, it is not the case."
And former Red Bull team-mate Pierre Gasly was effusive in his praise not just for the fact Verstappen had taken up the opportunity but also the way in which he went about it, driving alongside his sim racing team-mate Chris Lulham.
"I must say, I find it really cool," said Gasly.
"It's great for Max to have the opportunity to organise these things and ultimately it's great it got to a point where he's got his team, he's got these cars, he's got a nice set-up to just go around and actually do this type of racing. I think it's great for the sport.
"I wouldn't mind joining him in the future on some of this racing because I think it's just incredible. We like cars, we like racing.
"I think the fact of taking someone from the sim world as well, it's quite a unique story and I find it's really respectful and and really cool from his part to do all these things."
