Mercedes and Toto Wolff want Max Verstappen immediately: exemption requested for the Nürburgring
Mercedes and Toto Wolff have submitted a last-minute request for an exemption in order to get Max Verstappen into one of their cars as soon as possible.
It is no secret that Toto Wolff and Mercedes have had their eyes on Max Verstappen for quite some time. The head of the Silver Arrows has openly courted the four-time world champion, especially following the departure of Lewis Hamilton. For his part, however, the Dutch driver has chosen to remain loyal to the Red Bull project at least until 2026, waiting to gain a clearer picture of how the grid will look once the new regulations come into force.
An exemption requested to put Max straight into the car
Despite this, Max Verstappen is set to drive a Mercedes in 2026. It will not be a Formula 1 car, but rather one of the machines competing in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. At least, that is what both Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s number three are hoping for. In order for this potential “marriage” to take place on the circuit where Max had already made headlines with Ferrari last year, a special exemption from the event organizers is required.
Mercedes have therefore asked for the NLS race date to be moved. After receiving the green light from Red Bull, the Dutch driver still needs to take part in a preparatory race before being cleared to compete in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. According to Motorsport-Total.com, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius and Toto Wolff have applied pressure for the opening round of the NLS season to be postponed, as it currently clashes with the Chinese Grand Prix.
The decision now rests with the organizers, who are faced with extremely busy calendars that make any changes difficult to implement. However, having a driver of Max Verstappen’s stature on the entry list would undoubtedly provide a significant promotional boost, something that proved valuable back in 2025.
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