Mercedes won’t let Kimi Antonelli race at the Nurburgring after Max Verstappen’s tough loss.
Mercedes has announced that Kimi Antonelli won’t be allowed to race at the famous Nurburgring track after Max Verstappen’s tough loss there.
After waiting for years, four-time Formula One champ Verstappen finally raced in the 24-hour endurance event at the Nordschleife last weekend. He qualified fourth and, together with his teammates Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Dani Juncadella, seemed likely to win as they led in the final hours.
But with about three hours and 20 minutes left and a 30-second lead, the team had to leave the track because of a broken driveshaft. Though it was fixed, the problem cost them the win.
Still, Verstappen said after the race that he’d love to come back next year if his schedule allows it. This sparked talk about which drivers might take part if the F1 calendar makes it possible.
One driver interested is current championship leader Antonelli. He recently said in a video that he hopes to get the ‘Nordschleife permit’ needed to race there by the end of this year. But Mercedes’ deputy team boss Bradley Lord quickly said no.
“No,” he told Nitro when asked if Antonelli could get the permit this year. “I’ve talked to him about it. I think he meant it as a joke. Maybe he can try once he’s won four world championships.”
Lord added that Verstappen has more experience, having raced in F1 since he was 17 and already driving on the Nordschleife before this year’s event.
He said Antonelli should stay focused on Formula One as he aims for his first World Drivers’ Championship title this year.
It’s still early in the season—only four races in—so no one can say who’ll win the championship yet. But with Antonelli winning three Grand Prix in a row (China, Japan, and Miami), his fans have good reason to be excited.
Right now, Antonelli leads the World Championship with 100 points, 20 points ahead of his Mercedes teammate and former favorite George Russell. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is third with 59 points, followed by 2025 champ Lando Norris and F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, both with 51 points.
If Antonelli wins the 2026 title, he’ll make history as the youngest ever Formula One World Champion, beating Sebastian Vettel’s record when he won at age 23.