Nurburgring race director takes action over Max Verstappen frenzy

Max Verstappen looking pensive at the 24h Nurburgring qualifiers — Photo: © IMAGO

Nurburgring 24 Hours

Nurburgring race director takes action over Max Verstappen frenzy

Verstappen is making his 24-hour race debut

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Thursday 14 May 2026 21:55 Updated: 11:57

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F1 champion Max Verstappen's presence at the Nurburgring has already whipped up a frenzy ahead of qualifying for the 24-hour race on Thursday.

The Dutchman will take on the 'Green Hell' this weekend in his 24 hour race debut, alongside team-mates Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella.

For the first time in the event's history, tickets have sold out for the weekend as the Verstappen-effect has descended on the Nurburgring.

Already, Verstappen has sat out pre-race events such as the parade, with team-mates Auer and Gounon instead present with the No.3 Mercedes-AMG.

It is understood that Verstappen was advised by the organisers to sit out the parade, and subsequent media sessions, due to safety concerns.

Nurburgring 24 Hours: Rules and regulations as Max Verstappen races into action

Verstappen in photographer frenzy at the Nurburgring

Now, ahead of qualifying on Thursday, the race director has had to step in to quieten the Verstappen mania sweeping throughout the Eifel mountains.

According to GPFans reporter Vincent Bruins, the race director Walter Hornung had to intervene and tell a group of photographers to behave during the drivers' briefing.

The briefing was split into one for the German participants and one in English for the international participants, during which Hornung explained all the regulations that the drivers must adhere to. This includes rules regarding yellow flags and Code 60 zones.

Rumours circulated that Verstappen would receive a private briefing, but the four-time world champion was present at the 'normal' briefing.

Verstappen wanted to take a seat at the front, close to the race director, but it took a while before the briefing could start because a number of photographers kept focusing on him.

That is not the intention during a drivers' briefing, and Hornung had to intervene by telling them to move somewhere else and remain quiet.

When will Verstappen take part in the 24 Hours Qualifying

There are three Qualifying sessions (think of them like Free Practice in F1, they do not set the grid) along with three Top Qualifying sessions, which do impact the grid order.

The first two Qualifying sessions take place today (Thursday May 14) and you can watch every second of them live without leaving GPFans, starting at 12:15 UK time (13:15 CET or 07:15 Eastern Time in the US).

Tonight's evening session meanwhile starts at 19:00 UK (20:00 CET or 14:00 Eastern). Verstappen MUST drive in that session as it is mandatory for every driver to do laps 'in the dark' ahead of the 24-hour test at the weekend.