Laurence Edmondson May 12, 2026, 12:23 PM ET Close • Joined ESPN in 2009 • An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011 This weekend, Max Verstappen will make his long-awaited racing debut at the legendary ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours. The prospect of a four-time world champion using one of his free weekends to race in one of the most chaotic endurance races on the planet has captured the imagination of fans across motorsport. Why is Verstappen racing at the Nürburgring? Verstappen has long held an ambition to race at the Nürburgring 24 Hours -- an event he has followed for years from afar. Via his love of sim racing, he has completed "thousands" of laps of the circuit in the virtual world, but this year's edition of the real-world 24-hour race was the first he could realistically dovetail with his F1 commitments.…