GT driver stripped of Nordschleife licence as Verstappen's Mercedes fails at Nürburgring

Two headline‑making incidents unfolded at the Nürburgring 24 Hours weekend. GT driver Oleksandr Kosohov lost his Nordschleife licence after a serious safety violation in qualifying, and Max Verstappen’s GT3‑spec Mercedes suffered a mechanical failure that handed Audi the win in the second qualifying race.

Why it matters:

• Safety enforcement on the Nordschleife is critical; the licence revocation underscores zero tolerance for rule breaches.
• A failure on Verstappen’s Mercedes GT3 car raises questions about the reliability of a brand normally dominant in F1.
• Audi’s pole and win demonstrate how equipment reliability can tip the balance in endurance events.

The details:

• Kosohov ignored a yellow‑flag zone during qualifying, prompting officials to strip his Nordschleife licence for the remainder of the 24 Hours.
• Verstappen’s car suffered a clutch‑actuator fault on the long Nordschleife lap, forcing a retirement and handing the lead to Audi.
• Audi’s #16 entry – Christopher Haase, Alexander Sims and Ben Green – posted the fastest time in the second qualifying session and secured the race win.
• Mercedes has identified the faulty component and plans a redesign before the next endurance round, while no injuries were reported in Kosohov’s incident.

What's next:

• Kosohov may appeal, but the sanction will remain in effect pending a formal hearing.
• Mercedes will run an updated GT3 spec at the upcoming 24 Hours of Spa, hoping to restore confidence.
• The final Nürburgring 24 Hours race on Sunday will start from the qualifying order, giving Audi the advantage and leaving Verstappen to chase points with a backup car.