Max Verstappen wins again in Nurburgring GT3 race ahead of 24-hour debut

Max Verstappen secured his second consecutive win in the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS), driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with his future 24-hour race teammates. The four-hour event served as a crucial final rehearsal, with the Red Bull F1 champion overcoming early challenges to take a commanding victory through strategic teamwork.

Why it matters:

This victory is more than just another trophy; it's a critical data-gathering and team-bonding exercise for Verstappen's highly anticipated Nurburgring 24 Hours debut later this year. Success in endurance racing hinges on flawless driver changes, consistent pace, and strategic pit work—elements that are vastly different from a standard F1 weekend. A win here builds confidence and proves the synergy with his co-drivers, Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, is already strong.

The details:

• Verstappen took pole position but lost the lead at the start to Audi veteran Christopher Haase, spending much of his opening stint battling to reclaim P1 before finally passing him just before the first pit stops.
• Co-driver Dani Juncadella, during the second stint, retook the lead from the Audi and executed a longer eight-lap run to build a strategic advantage for the team.
• Jules Gounon faced the toughest on-track challenge, engaging in a fierce side-by-side duel with the #99 BMW of Dan Harper. Contact between Harper and a backmarker forced the BMW to serve a penalty, allowing Gounon to extend the lead.
• By the time Verstappen returned to the car for the final stint, the strategic masterstroke of longer middle stints had given him an insurmountable lead of over a minute, requiring only a calm drive to the finish.

What's next:

All focus now shifts to the main event: the ADAC TotalEnergies 24h Nurburgring on June 1-2. Verstappen will be joined in the #3 Mercedes by Juncadella, Gounon, and a fourth pro driver, Lucas Auer. This successful dress rehearsal validates the team's pace and operational strength, making them one of the clear favorites for the iconic endurance race. For Verstappen, it's a valuable diversion before returning to the intense focus of the F1 world championship battle.