The 2026 NLS2 (Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie) round, held on March 21, 2026, was a historic moment for Max Verstappen, marking his competitive debut with Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing.
While Max crossed the line first, his team was later disqualified due to a technical infringement regarding the number of tire sets used. Below are the specifications for the machine he piloted:
Car Specifications: Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO (2026)
The car is a „Performance“ level entry prepared by Winward Racing, featuring a bespoke Red Bull livery.
- Engine: 6.3L Naturally Aspirated V8
- Power Output: Approximately 550 hp (subject to BoP – Balance of Performance)
- Torque: Approximately 650 Nm
- Transmission: XTRAC 6-speed sequential transaxle gearbox
- Chassis: Aluminum spaceframe with a carbon fiber „EVO“ aero kit
- Weight: ~1,285 kg (Base weight before BoP ballast)
- Brakes: Multi-stage racing ABS; 390mm front / 355mm rear steel discs
- Electronics: 12-stage traction control and motorsport-specific ECU mapping for the Nordschleife
NLS2 Race Performance Details
Max used this race as a critical „Permit A“ preparation for the upcoming 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May.
- Race Number: #3 (Matching his 2026 F1 entry)
- Qualifying: Max secured Pole Position with a blistering time of 7:51.751 on the 24km Nordschleife layout.
- Driver Line-up: Max Verstappen, Dani Juncadella, and Jules Gounon.
- Race Result: 1st on track (Winning by ~59 seconds), but officially DSQ (Disqualified) for exceeding the permitted tire allocation.
Price & Reference Links
Since this is a factory-supported GT3 race car, you can’t buy the exact race-ready #3 machine, but you can reference the platform and collectibles:
- Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing: The base GT3 EVO starts at approximately €425,000 ($460,000).Official Mercedes-AMG GT3 Page
Similar GT3 Race Cars
- BMW M4 GT3 EVO: The main rival from ROWE Racing during the NLS2 battle.
- Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II: Piloted by Christopher Haase, who fought Max for the lead in the opening stint.
- Ferrari 296 GT3: The car Max drove during his 2025 NLS debut victory.
- Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2): The legendary „Manthey EMA“ entry, always a favorite at the ‚Ring.
