These drivers will join Max Verstappen in his first NLS race of 2026

The #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Verstappen Racing will be driven by three drivers this weekend at the Nordschleife.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion will be joined by Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon.

Lucas Auer also forms part of the team and was meant to drive in NLS1 last week as well, but they did not participate in the end due to poor weather conditions. Find out more about Verstappen's teammates below!

The Spanish driver won the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2012. In 2013, he was a Formula 1 test driver for Williams, and he held the same role at Force India the following season.

In 2014, he drove in three free practice sessions for the Indian outfit at Silverstone, Monza, and Interlagos.

After competing for several seasons in DTM and while also continuing to compete at various IMSA events, Juncadella completed two full seasons for TF Sport in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship. Their best result was a victory in Qatar in 2025.

Gounon is an experienced endurance racer, having won the 24 Hours of Spa twice, the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2023 in the GTD Pro category, and recorded various victories in Australia at the Bathurst 12 Hour as well.

He also won the Pro titles in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup in 2022 and 2023.

Over the past two years, he has also raced hypercars for Alpine, completing a full season in 2025. He also stepped onto the podium twice this year at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps.

In the 2025 season, he also competed for Mercedes in DTM, scoring three podiums.

Auer has experience with Winward Racing, having won the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup with the team in 2024, and the 24h of Daytona this year in the GTD category.

He also has multiple race victories in DTM, and finished second in the standings twice.

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