SHOCK MOVE: Max Verstappen Trades Red Bull for Mercedes-AMG at the “Green Hell”

NÜRBURGRING, GERMANY — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global motorsport community, four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has officially confirmed he will be racing under the Three-Pointed Star. However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief—it isn’t a permanent jump to Toto Wolff’s F1 squad, but rather a high-octane “side quest” at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Escaping the F1 Hybrid Frustration

The timing of the announcement is no coincidence. Verstappen has been vocal about his “frustrations” regarding the new 2026 F1 hybrid regulations, which debuted earlier this month at the Australian Grand Prix. After a weekend marred by energy management complaints and a mysterious rear-axle lockup that led to a crash in qualifying, Verstappen didn’t hold back.

“This is not Formula 1 anymore,” the Dutchman told reporters in Melbourne, comparing the new battery-heavy cars to Formula E. “I love racing, but I want it to be proper F1 on steroids, not a game of managing battery percentages on every straight.”

Seeking a return to “pure” racing, Verstappen has set his sights on the 2026 24 Hours of Nürburgring, arguably the most grueling endurance race on the planet.

![Max Verstappen standing next to a Red Bull-liveried Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo at the Nürburgring]

The Machine: Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo

While Verstappen remains a Red Bull driver in F1, his personal racing outfit, Verstappen Racing, has entered a multi-year partnership with Mercedes-AMG. For his Nürburgring campaign, he will join forces with the powerhouse Winward Racing team.

The weapon of choice is the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. Unlike the 4.0L Biturbo V8 found in the road-going AMG GT, this race-spec beast is powered by a monstrous 6.3L naturally aspirated V8.

Power Output: Limited to approx. 550 hp (due to Balance of Performance).

Torque: 650 Nm.

0-100 km/h: 3.0 seconds.

Transmission: 6-speed AMG sequential gearbox.

The car will sport a striking Red Bull-inspired livery and, in a nod to his F1 machine, will carry the starting number 3.

![Action shot of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo tackling the Karussell corner at the Nürburgring]

The “Super Team” Lineup

Verstappen isn’t just showing up for a guest appearance; he’s built a “super team” to conquer the Green Hell. He will share the cockpit with:

    Daniel Juncadella (Spain): A Mercedes GT3 veteran and Spa 24h winner.

    Jules Gounon (Andorra): Three-time Bathurst 12h winner and GT specialist.

    Lucas Auer (Austria): DTM star and Mercedes-AMG performance driver.

“The Nürburgring is a special place; there’s no other track like it,” Verstappen stated via his official website. “The 24h Nürburgring has been on my bucket list for a long time. Last year I won NLS9 in a Ferrari using a ‘secret’ alias, but now we are doing it for real, with a package that I believe can win.”

The Road to the 24 Hours

To prepare for the main event on May 16-17, 2026, Verstappen will debut the car at the NLS2 (Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie) on March 21. This specific round was reportedly rescheduled by organizers to accommodate Verstappen’s tight F1 schedule between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.

While Red Bull Powertrains and Ford work feverishly to fix the energy issues of the RB22 in Formula 1, their star driver will be busy enjoying the raw, mechanical roar of an AMG V8. It’s a move that proves Max Verstappen is a racer first, and a politician never.