'I don't want to do it when I'm 40' – Verstappen 'the perfect age' to be competing in Nurburgring 24 Hours

Max Verstappen believes he 'is the perfect age' to be taking part in other major motorsport events, with the Red Bull driver set to make his Nurburgring 24 Hours debut later this season.

The Dutchman will contest the endurance event in May between the Miami and Canadian Grand Prixs at the wheel of a Mercedes AMG-GT3, run by Winward Racing and featuring a Red Bull livery.

Verstappen has made no secret of his desire to compete in the event, having obtained his permit to race on the Nordschleife last season with an outing in a GT4 car, before winning a round of the Nurburgring Endurance Series in September driving a Ferrari 296 GT3.

Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, the 28-year-old told the media his reasons for wanting to race at the Nordschleife, which last hosted a Formula 1 event in 1976.

"It's one of the best races in the world, it's one of the best tracks," said Verstappen. "In a GT car, for me that's like the perfect speed around there. I think if you go anything faster it can be a bit dangerous in places.

"I've been watching a long time, a lot of my friends have been racing in it, they say it's one of the best things ever. I like racing other cars as well, so this was basically the first time I could do it. I'm very excited to see how we're going to perform. It's a very stacked line-up and field in general."

Verstappen will share the Mercedes alongside well-established GT drivers including Dani Juncadella, Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer, with the four-time World Champion set to enter the NLS2 race on March 21 in preparation for the blue riband event.

"It's just the way of working with people, it's a bit of a different environment that you're in, in the paddock," added Verstappen.

"Probably a little bit more old-school which I probably enjoy a bit more. Can probably be a bit more myself.

"All the big endurance races I want to do, it's something that when I was a kid, my dad was doing them.

"I don't need to be only an F1 driver, I can also do other things. I've done this already for a while, achieved everything I want to achieve so that's why I want to explore other things and I don't want to do them when I'm 40 years old. Now is the perfect age to do it."