In his first attempt at the Nürburgring 24-hour race, four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen led with a strong performance before mechanical problems ended his hopes. The race took place in Nürburg, Germany, and Verstappen shared the Mercedes AMG GT3 car with seasoned racers Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon, and Dani Juncadella.
Verstappen held a lead of over thirty seconds in the morning session. However, with three and a half hours remaining, the team’s fortune changed. Juncadella had taken over from Verstappen when a driveshaft issue forced him to slow down, resulting in the loss of their lead. This mechanical failure led to a pit stop where the car was pulled into the garage. Ultimately, victory was claimed by another Mercedes team composed of Maro Engel, Luca Stolz, Fabian Schiller, and Maxime Martin.
“Very unfortunate and frustrating ending, but these things can happen,” Verstappen shared on Instagram. Despite the setback, he expressed enjoyment of the overall experience.
Juncadella managed to return to the race about three hours after the incident, ensuring the team’s finish in 38th place. The race acted as a special project for Verstappen, coming just a week before the Canadian Grand Prix. A passionate racing enthusiast, Verstappen has raised concerns about the future of F1’s electrically powered cars planned for 2026.
During Saturday evening’s first stint, Verstappen quickly showcased his skill by moving from 10th to the lead with bold overtaking. An encounter with a bump saw him run off into the grass, but he maintained control, continuing to compete for the lead overnight.
“I think in general it’s just the competition, the endurance style racing where you share with teammates,” Verstappen said. He expressed his wish to return in 2027, highlighting the challenging nature of the race and track.
The Nürburgring presented distinctive challenges compared to F1. With 159 cars starting the race on a 15.8-mile circuit, Verstappen skillfully navigated slower cars and narrowly avoided a crash when two Porsches collided ahead of him. Weather conditions added complexity, with different track sections experiencing varying weather.
This event not only marked Verstappen’s longest race but also his first true test of endurance racing at night without F1’s extensive floodlighting system.
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