Mercedes downplays Verstappen connection despite Nurburgring excitement.

      Mercedes’ deputy chief Bradley Lord emphasizes that Max Verstappen racing a Mercedes GT3 car at the Nurburgring has "very, very little" connection to the Formula 1 rumors regarding the world champion's potential move to Toto Wolff's team.

      Verstappen's participation in the sold-out 24 Hours of Nurburgring has further fueled speculation about his long-term plans amidst the ongoing uncertainty about Red Bull's competitiveness and the contentious regulations for 2026. When questioned by Champ1 about whether Verstappen's increasing association with Mercedes GT could bridge toward Formula 1, Lord dismissed the idea.

      "I believe those are definitely two entirely separate matters," he stated. "One pertains to customer motorsport, the other to Formula 1. If Max races GT cars, we are pleased that Mercedes is his preferred choice and that he can compete for overall success in the 24-hour race with a strong Mercedes."

      Lord acknowledged that Verstappen's involvement has greatly benefited both Mercedes and the Nurburgring event but refrained from suggesting any deeper connections. "Viewing it as a bridge is overly simplistic, and fundamentally the two aspects have very, very little in common."

      When asked again if the notion of Verstappen in Mercedes Formula 1 colors remains an enticing fantasy, Lord referred back to Wolff’s previous remarks. "I understand the inclination to speculate," he smiled. "But all I can do is echo what Toto has already stated this year. We have our two preferred drivers in the two cars, both of whom are products of the Mercedes system."

      Lord was also directly questioned about Verstappen's ongoing criticisms of Formula 1’s current trajectory and whether Mercedes is concerned that he might eventually leave the sport entirely. "I think that is entirely up to Max," he replied. "The sport has endured the comings and goings of thousands of drivers over its 75 or 76 years, and the same would apply to any of the current drivers."

      Lord suggested that Verstappen's frustration seems to be diminishing as Red Bull regains its competitiveness. "Personally, I would feel that the tone of those comments is not increasing, but rather decreasing, as Red Bull's performance and the competitiveness of the car improve," he noted. "However, I don't want to speak for Max. He knows his perspective."

      Lord also indicated that the unusually fragmented early 2026 calendar has heightened off-track speculation. "In these first two and a half months of Formula 1, there have been numerous statements and significant talking points, partly due to the lack of actual racing," he said. "At least we’re pleased that starting this weekend, there will be seven races across nine or ten weekends, allowing us to race intensively again, which is the best thing that can happen for Formula 1."