Max Verstappen’s debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours captivated the motorsport world — and it seems the spectacle was not lost on his rivals. Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old leading the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, recently made clear he wanted a taste of the Nordschleife for himself. Mercedes, however, had other ideas.

The Permit That Sparked a Debate

To race on the Nordschleife, any driver must obtain the DMSB Nordschleife Permit, known as the DPN — a mandatory licence that requires completing a defined number of supervised laps on the circuit before being allowed to compete. In a video that circulated widely on social media, Antonelli expressed his ambition to earn that permit before the end of 2026.

The comment quickly gained traction, raising genuine questions about whether the young Italian could follow in Verstappen’s footsteps and make his own appearance at the legendary endurance race. Antonelli had even gone further, admitting he dreamed of one day teaming up with Verstappen himself for an endurance event — an idea he described as “super cool.”

“I would love to do an endurance race with Max, together.” — Kimi Antonelli

Bradley Lord Shuts It Down

During the Nürburgring 24 Hours weekend, Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord was asked directly by German broadcaster Nitro whether the team would allow Antonelli to obtain the DPN this year. His answer was one word:

“No.” — Bradley Lord, Mercedes Deputy Team Principal

Lord elaborated, suggesting the remark may have been misconstrued in the first place. He said he had spoken to Antonelli about it and believed the young driver had been joking — at least in part. He then added a pointed comparison, noting that Verstappen “perhaps has a bit more range thanks to his experience” compared to the teenager, and joked that Antonelli might get his shot at the Green Hell after claiming four world championships — a direct nod to Verstappen’s own trophy haul before making the Nordschleife leap.

“I’ve spoken to him about it. I think he meant it more as a joke. Maybe he could give it a try after four world championships.” — Bradley Lord, Mercedes Deputy Team Principal

The Reason Behind the Decision

Mercedes’ stance is rooted in pragmatism. Antonelli is not just any driver — he is currently leading the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 100 points, 20 points ahead of his team-mate George Russell. The Silver Arrows have won all four races of the season so far, with Russell taking victory in Australia and Antonelli following up with consecutive wins in China, Japan, and Miami.

The Nordschleife is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous circuits in the world. At 15.7 miles long, lined with barriers and largely blind corners, it demands extensive preparation before any driver can compete safely. Lord’s message was unambiguous: with a title fight to win, there is no place for distractions.

“Full focus on Formula 1.” — Bradley Lord, on Antonelli’s priorities for 2026

The Verstappen Effect — and Its Limits

The backdrop to all of this is Verstappen’s own appearance at the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours — an event that sold out for the first time in its 56-year history, largely credited to what many dubbed the “Max Verstappen effect.” The four-time world champion shared the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon, and Lucas Auer, leading comfortably for most of the race before a driveshaft failure ended their victory bid in the closing hours.

For Verstappen, the Nordschleife adventure came with the security of four world titles and years of Nordschleife experience already behind him. For Antonelli, still in only his second Formula 1 season and carrying genuine title momentum, Mercedes are not prepared to take that same risk — not yet.

George Russell, for his part, took a similar view to his team bosses. He had already joked that he would perhaps wait until he had four championships of his own before allowing himself to be distracted by the Green Hell — a remark that underlines just how seriously Mercedes are taking this season.