F1 LIVE | Mercedes submits request for Verstappen, Red Bull skips crucial shakedown

09:01, 18 Jan

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byKada Sarkozi

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F1 LIVE | 18 January

Mercedes submits request to reschedule NLS season opener for Verstappen

Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Källenius and Toto Wolff, CEO of the Mercedes F1 team, submitted a request to the organizers to reschedule the season-opening round of Nordschleife Langstrecken-Serie, so the Dutchman can take part.

At the Red Bull launch, Max Verstappen told GPblog that he would drive at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring event if he has time to prepare for it properly.

At the moment, the first NLS race clashes with the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.

Find out more here!

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull skips crucial shakedown ahead of the F1 2026 season

Red Bull and Racing Bulls were the first teams to reveal their 2026 challengers in Detroit, Michigan, at the event hosted by Ford.

However, GPblog understands that the Austrian team will not have a shakedown ahead of the first pre-season test in Barcelona, set to take place from 26 to 30 January.

On the other hand, Racing Bulls will carry out a shakedown ahead of the Barcelona test. The car is set to make its first appearance at Imola, where the team will also begin collecting the initial data on the new power unit.

Verstappen reveals how he got the number 3 from Ricciardo

Entering the new season, the Dutch driver will use a new number on his car: #3.

At the Red Bull launch, Verstappen was asked how he managed to convince Daniel Ricciardo to let him use the number.

“A few drinks together, yeah, that always helps,” the Red Bull Racing driver said in a light-hearted response to CBS News.

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