Max Verstappen marks 10-year F1 debut

Max Verstappen hit the 10-year mark since his Formula One debut as his racing calendar shifted this week from grand prix duties to endurance racing. Formula 1’s official site lists Verstappen as the sport’s youngest-ever competitor after he started the 2015 Australian Grand Prix for Toro Rosso at age 17. This week, Verstappen is at the Nürburgring for his first start in the 24-hour classic with Verstappen Racing and Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. ### When did Verstappen’s Formula One career begin? March 15, 2015, is the date that anchors the anniversary. The 2015 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne was Verstappen’s first Formula One world championship start, and Formula 1 said before that race that he would become the youngest driver to start a grand prix. Guinness World Records lists his age that day as 17 years and 166 days. (formula1.com) Toro Rosso was the team that put Verstappen on the grid in Melbourne. Formula 1’s driver profile says that debut began a rise that later included him becoming the series’ youngest points scorer and youngest race winner. ### Why is the Nürburgring part of this anniversary week? May 2026 has put Verstappen at the Nordschleife for a different milestone. (en.wikipedia.org) Verstappen.com said on May 12 that he was set for his first 24h Nürburgring start, with qualifying on May 14-15 and the race on May 16-17. Red Bull’s event guide also described the race as his 24-hour Nürburgring debut. (formula1.com) Verstappen Racing announced on March 9 that the program would be run with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and Winward Racing. The team named Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer as Verstappen’s co-drivers for the 2026 race. Verstappen said then that the Nürburgring 24 Hours had been on his “bucket list for a long time.” ### What has he done on track so far? (news.verstappen.com) April’s qualifying weekend offered the clearest public measure before the main event. Verstappen.com reported that Verstappen Racing finished fifth in top qualifying for the 24h Qualifiers, a separate preparation event held ahead of the May race. The same outlet said Verstappen and Auer had qualified sixth for the first four-hour qualifiers race. (news.verstappen.com) May 14 added another data point. Verstappen.com said Verstappen set the third-fastest time in the first qualifying session for the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours, in a session affected by yellow flags and changing weather. A follow-up report on May 15 said the team remained third after a wet second qualifying session. ### How big is the Nürburgring event he is entering? (news.verstappen.com) The ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring website said 161 entrants are on the 2026 grid, while Verstappen.com described it as the largest field in 10 years. The official race site also highlighted Verstappen as a prominent debutant in this year’s event. Red Bull’s race guide said the event runs on the combined Nürburgring layout at roughly 25.378 kilometers and drew around 280,000 spectators in 2025. (news.verstappen.com) Verstappen.com said weekend tickets for 2026 had sold out and estimated about 300,000 spectators around the circuit. ### What happens next for Verstappen? Saturday, May 16, is the next fixed point. (24h-rennen.de) Verstappen.com said the 54th edition of the Nürburgring 24 Hours starts at 15:00 CEST on Saturday and finishes 24 hours later on Sunday, May 17. Red Bull said fans can watch the race on Red Bull TV and the Red Bull Motorsports YouTube channel. (news.verstappen.com) (redbull.com)