Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Wolff and Mercedes submit request for Verstappen: Nürburgring race must be rescheduled

14:21, 17 Jan

Updated: 14:37, 17 Jan

byLudo van Denderen

Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Källenius and Toto Wolff, CEO of the Mercedes F1 team, have submitted a request to the organizers of the Nordschleife Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) to reschedule an endurance race so that Max Verstappen can take part.

For months, there has been talk of Verstappen participating in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. Mercedes would love to see the Dutchman compete there in one of their cars, but that’s proving to be easier said than done.

Verstappen wants to prepare first

Verstappen only wants to take part if he can prepare earlier in the year during four-hour races on the Nordschleife, as he explained to GPblog this week in Detroit. "If I do it (the 24 hours race, ed.), I want to prepare well. And all the prep races are clashing with Formula 1. So, only if maybe something changes there, then maybe I can do it."

Max Verstappen - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Mercedes is trying to make Verstappen’s request happen. They have pushed to postpone the NLS season opener on March 14, as it currently clashes with the F1 Chinese Grand Prix.

"The request for a possible postponement has now been submitted, but nothing more," NLS-boss Mike Jager responded to Motorsport-Total. "We are currently looking into this, but nothing has been decided yet. It has to work for everyone."

It is widely known that the Red Bull Racing driver already has permission to take part in the preparation races as well as the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring.

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