Too Fast, Too Risky? Helmut Marko Once ‘Banned’ Max Verstappen From Nurburgring

Last Updated:March 23, 2026, 4:23 pm IST

Helmut Marko once blocked Max Verstappen’s plan to drive an F1 car at the Nürburgring, as the Dutchman endured a dramatic weekend ending in disqualification.

Max Verstappen with Helmut Marko (AFP)

There’s no denying it — Max Verstappen lives and breathes motorsport.

From Formula 1 to GT3 racing and even sim racing, the Dutchman rarely steps away from the wheel. But sometimes, even his own camp has had to step in and hit the brakes.

Marko’s ‘Ban’ on Verstappen

Helmut Marko, the man who helped shape Verstappen’s career at Red Bull Racing, has revealed he once shut down one of the driver’s more ambitious ideas.

Speaking recently to PlanetF1Marko recalled how Verstappen wanted to take a Red Bull F1 car for a demonstration run at the Nurburgring Nordschleife — famously dubbed the ‘Green Hell.’

“Max was raving to me about the Nordschleife years ago,” Marko said. “Back then, he wanted to do a demonstration run in a Formula 1 Red Bull. But that set off all my alarm bells.”

To Marko, the plan wasn’t as harmless as it sounded.

“Demonstration run, my foot! Max had seen that crazy video of Timo Bernhard breaking the lap record in a Le Mans Porsche. I reckon he wanted to top that with the Red Bull.

“It was too dangerous for me. That’s why I put a stop to it and banned it.”

A Chaotic Nurburgring Weekend

Fast forward to now, and Verstappen still found his way to the Nurburgring, just not in an F1 car.

Competing in the opening round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie, Verstappen teamed up with Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry.

On track, it was dominant — as it often is with Max behind the wheel.

The trio stormed to victory around the Nordschleife, with Verstappen delivering crucial opening and closing stints and finishing over a minute clear.

But the celebrations didn’t last.

A post-race ruling disqualified the team after it emerged they had used seven sets of tyres — one more than the permitted limit of six — due to an error traced back to qualifying.

What’s Next for Max?

It’s been a frustrating start to 2026 for Verstappen, and this latest twist only adds to the narrative. Still, if history tells us anything, it won’t slow him down.

With a break in the Formula 1 calendar, Verstappen is now eyeing participation in the Nurburgring 24 Hours qualifying races next month.

Because if there’s a steering wheel nearby, chances are, Max will find it.

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